DuPage Co. (ECWd) –
For months we have been exposing things done by the former Board of Trustees, President, and Senior Administration. All during that time frame we have received continued push back with denials, lies, and deception. On more than one occasion I have urged criminal charges for the actions of these people who have clearly violated the law and misapplied tax payer funds and breach of fiduciary duty.
I can honestly say I have never in my life seen such total disregard of their duty as I have seen with COD. Erin Birt will go down in history as the most incompetent board Chairman in the history of Community Colleges!
Once again I ask that criminal charges be brought. This time against those responsible for the concealment of an internal audit that has now led to Thomas Glaser, Treasure, and Lynn Sypata, Controller, being placed on administrative leave.
The Chicago Tribune article today did a fabulous job exposing the malfeasance by these people and I commend them for continuing to expose the bad actors at COD.
“The scathing review — which college officials now say was buried for months — found multiple instances in which the college violated its own investment policies. One decision cost the college nearly $2 million in a single, high-profile fund, according to the audit.” “It had been suppressed,” said school spokesman Randall Samborn. “People who had it did not act upon it.” (Chicago Tribune Coverage) (Updated Chicago Tribune article with more details)
Official Misconduct should be the charge for all that participated in the suppression of the internal audit from the Board of Trustees.
720 ILCS 5/33-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 33-3)
Sec. 33-3. Official misconduct.
(a) A public officer or employee or special government agent commits misconduct when, in his official capacity or capacity as a special government agent, he or she commits any of the following acts:
(1) Intentionally or recklessly fails to perform any mandatory duty as required by law; or
(2) Knowingly performs an act which he knows he is forbidden by law to perform;
In April I exposed the investment report at COD that was filled with problems and how a whistle blower could earn money by blowing the whistle. Has someone blown the whistle? (April article on investment issues)
Those types of problems exposed in the audit happen because of a failure to comply with board policies and a total breakdown of internal controls, assuming they ever had any. The very policy in place for COD investments cost the tax payers over $2,000,000.00.
When your top financial administrators continue to claim their house is in order when in fact an internal audit proves otherwise, that becomes a serious problem. Reading the audit it appears managements claim on several issues is to cast the blame onto the trustees however this appears to be yet another case of failing to tell the board everything! Specifically by keeping this audit from their review.
Thomas Glaser and Lynn Sypata have clearly, recklessly failed to perform mandatory duties as required by law and have knowingly performed acts which they know are orbidden by law to perform.
With two prongs of Official Misconduct being nailed, is there anyone that thinks they should not be charged?
If any of the board members were privy to this information they too should face criminal charges!
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