Algonquin Township Clerk – Legal bills prior to approval of independent counsel -local media silent

McHenry Co. (ECWd) –

Legal bills, Legal Bills, the sky is falling!  It’s Gassers’ fault, it’s Hanlon’s fault, oh my, oh my.

The local media has done a bang-up job of presenting just enough information to create hysteria amongst the villagers while steering clear of anything that might possibly shine a light on the malfeasance of the past administration, current Board, Clerk, and Supervisor.

As we pointed out in this article, the Clerk’s legal bills were just shy of $100,000.00.  Shortly after that publication, the Kelly law firm provided the missing bill from June of 2017 and it is most telling.  Not most telling from a standpoint of what services were rendered, as that was all redacted, but telling from the dates the services were billed.

The Township Board took action  June 14th, 2017 to appoint independent counsel for the Clerk in case #17CH00435.

So how is it that the Clerk was racking up legal bills before such legal counsel was appointed?  Where is the outrage on those improperly billed legal expenditures?  We say improper because the billing reflects services rendered prior to approval of an appointment.

A total of 41 hours were billed for at a rate of $250.0 an hour, all prior to board appointment of an Attorney for the Clerk.   That amounts to $10,250.00 of taxpayer money out the door in two weeks time.  The Board approved those bills which point to their inability to apply an acceptable standard of care to the taxpayer’s money, again.

Why does the Clerk get a free pass when laws are not followed?

Think this is just our opinion?

 (60 ILCS 1/100-5) Sec. 100-5. Township attorney and other employees; compensation. (a) The township board may employ and fix the compensation of township employees that the board deems necessary, excluding the employees of the offices of supervisor of general assistance, township collector, and township assessor. The township board shall fix the compensation of a township attorney appointed by the township supervisor under Section 70-37.

60 ILCS 1/70-37)  Sec. 70-37. Township attorney. The supervisor, with the advice and consent of the township board, may appoint a township attorney. The township attorney’s compensation shall be fixed as provided in Section 100-5.

Considering the Clerk racked up legal bills prior to the legal appointment, is it wrong to demand the recovery of those funds?  Does the Clerk get a free pass, much like Bob Miller and others have when laws are not followed?

Why no local media coverage of her legal bills and how she racked them up before obtaining approval?

I know, it’s all Gasser’s fault or Hanlon’s.  That is the local media narrative of the month while ignoring ongoing violations of the Township Code and other laws by the rest of the Township officials.

While the local media continues to froth at the mouth over the Road District’s legally compliant representation they are silent on violations of law.  Makes you wonder if they know what the laws are?

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