DuPgae Co. (ECWd) –
In an ongoing FOIA production from the College of DuPage relating to e-mails to and from Carla Burkhart’s e-mail accounts used for Herricane Graphics, we have come across a noteworthy e-mail addressed to Tom Glaser, former Executive VP and Treasure at COD.
Noteworthy because the most basic foundational principal in this state, as it relates to use of public funds, is that it is the public’s business.
So foundational that it is part of our State Constitution and the very first section regarding finances!
Article VIII- SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(a) Public funds, property or credit shall be used only
for public purposes.
(b) The State, units of local government and school
districts shall incur obligations for payment or make
payments from public funds only as authorized by law or
ordinance.
(c) Reports and records of the obligation, receipt and
use of public funds of the State, units of local government and school districts are public records available for inspection by the public according to law.
My first FOIA for this information resulted in a denial. however. the same FOIA after the new board took office resulted in the ongoing rolling production of records. Now I know why Breuder and others didn’t want this information out.
September 23, 2014, Carla Burkhart advice’s Tom Glaser she will not ‘accept’ any more work at COD. Is it out of line to wonder how one is in a position to ‘accept’ work at COD versus compete for it?
Another interesting statement is that she made this decision before a recent Forbes post that was brought to her attention by her own children, “whom proceeded to ask me if I was going to jail?”
The 2nd to last paragraph of the e-mail is probably the most telling as it relates to COD Foundation Member Carla Burkhart and her company Herricane Graphics. The quote points to a position of arrogance and total disconnect as to what it means to perform work for a public body.
After referring to anonymous calls from media wanting information on Breuder and COD she instructed her staff to respond to no one and then says:
“It’s none of anyone’s business what we do for COD”
Wrong!
It’s everyone’s business what you do for COD and is outlined in our own Constitution!
Email can be downloaded at this link.
