More Commentary on Jack Frank’s Usurpation of County Board Power

From former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster:

To:          Taxpayers and County Board members:

Ladies and gentlemen, we do have a serious problem!

Jack Franks

At no time in the history of McHenry County have we had someone in county government with such unethical, irresponsible and dangerous intentions.

The new McHenry County Board Chairman is out of control.

He has usurped his authority of anything and everything at the county board office.

Through his voracious appetite for power… he has rendered our county board irrelevant.

He has, without an approved budget, much less committee and board approval; hired three people;

  1. a Legislative Assistant
  2. a Communication Specialist; and the latest hire,
  3. a Parliamentarian.

He has simply taken it upon himself to do this.

The calculated upheaval his actions have brought to the county board administrative office is tantamount to intimidation. 

“If he can get these people to walk away from long held positions; he will have free reign in taking over that department.

Recently, it was noted that he is now asking for a “clothing allowance” and an “travel allowance.“

At no time has a County Board Chairman received anything more than his/her salary and reimbursement of actual expenses in carrying out approved directions of the County Board.

Further, nothing in the County Board Rules or the State Statute gives this elected official the authority to personally assume the control he is taking.

From the beginning of his term of office, this chairman hit the ground running by obstructing board members by cancelling committee meetings where the actual work is done.

He then assaults members by shouting them down during board meetings when they dare to ask questions.

These actions prevented board members from carrying out their duties and responsibilities on behalf of taxpayers.

Most recently, this person is once again leaping over the appropriate committee to take another stab at reconfiguring the board rules to meet his personal motives.

As with his first rules changes, he will stack another “special” committee with members who will allow him to bring his proposed rules changes to the board.

The chairman’s position is part-time at best; and frankly, unworthy of the salary already allowed. 

The chairman’s authority to take any action comes from the direction of the board only.

He conducts the board meetings and now has the authority to break tie votes for the board.

This man does not understand his place; worse yet, he is making up his rules as he goes.

Wake up county board members, you represent us. 

The chairman carries out your direction; not the other way around!


Comments

More Commentary on Jack Frank’s Usurpation of County Board Power — 21 Comments

  1. And I might add that Peter Austin also answers to the board as well and not to the chairman.

  2. He needs to be stopped in his tracks and now!

    Thank you for your input as a former board member.

  3. McHenry County government has had its problems in the past but the majority of the people who came out to vote last November have created a monster.

    That majority had to include Republican voters – you know who you are.

    The “little liar” has no clue on how to run a meeting and the majority of the current County Board have no clue how to stop him from implementing ‘his’ agenda.

    At the last Board meeting, the “Little Liar” was observed ‘texting’ during the meeting.

    Texting’ during a public meeting makes the ‘text’ an item which is subject to a request for content under the Illinois FOIA law.

    In my opinion, when a Board member observed this conduct, a motion should have been made to ‘censure’ the Chairman because his actions were in fact placing an undue burden on the County Administration with the FOIA requests which were sure to come due to the actions of the Chairman.

    In addition, there was much discussion between the Chairman and others seated in the ‘throne’ area of the Board room.

    Those discussions could not be heard by the public in attendence and did not come through on the live streaming.

    Current Board members, your rules state the meetings are subject to Roberts rules – READ THEM!!!

    The item at this link refers to trustees but the same action can be applied to a Chairman under Roberts Rules.

    http://www.obkcg.com/article.asp?a=847

    Just this week we have seen yet again how the Democrats in Springfield have given total control of Illinois legislation to Madigan – the “little liar” thinks he can be Madigan in McHenry County.

    If you want more detail on Madigan control, just ask Steve Reick – he spoke quite elegantly on the topic in Springfield yesterday!

  4. Very simple solution, could be accomplished quickly.

    Board resolves County Hiring Practice Protocols.
    Job openings must be posted to current government employees and public applicants in compliance with EEOC guidelines.

    Other counties have written job posting and hiring protocols.

  5. It is not exactly as though there has not been a well established process.

  6. Thank you very much, Ersel.

    We need a lot of people to step forward with the simple, straight forward facts as you have.

    Very well done.

    I hope that everyone reading Cal’s Blog shares the solid information that appears here.

  7. So, one man can come and impose his will against the will of the county administrator and 23 Republican board members?

    Is Jack implementing these policies himself?

    Is he approving these employment contracts?

    Is he signing these employment contracts?

    Is he writing these paychecks?

    I’m guessing not…

    23 Republicans are elected to provide oversight of county administrators.

    Are they providing this oversight?

    Even Springfield republicans can blame Madigan and his veto-proof majority while they, too, plunder away.

    What is the excuse here?

    Was it jack who approved Austin’s recent contract? (The one no one ever even saw) or was that the 23 Republican board members?

    Are the 23 Republican board members holding Austin or anyone accountable for these “usurpations”?

    Blame away… That’s one thing our republicans know how to do, in spades…

    .But at the end of the day, Jack, the “lone Boogeyman” can only “usurp”, “dictate”, “impose tyranny”
    As much as our 23 Republican board members allow…

    Recent MCGOP literature boasted “Republican Strong”..

    Ponder that for a moment…

    If this is what these Republicans consider “strong” I suggest they step away from their basement BOWFLEX and hit the free weights at the gym, with the big boys..

    Because all I continue to read of is a bunch of 98-pound weaklings, at the beach, getting sand kicked in their face by one man. And then coming home crying about it.

    Either Man-up, Shut up or admit that you only sit on the board for your paycheck, benefits and prestige.

  8. Just for a gentle correction, Patrick McHenry.

    There are 24 County Board members.

  9. Patrick McHenry…

    1) when democrats are so ashamed of their own party/beliefs they choose to place an “R” behind their names when they run for office… we have serious issues of morals and reason why enough votes support this man’s actions;

    2) a simple fact you should know is that… we do have 24 members and one chairman;

    3) clearly, it is the well learned Madigan/Springfield tactics of this man being exposed daily;

    4) new members are intimidated by his aggressiveness;

    5) when people choose not to complain about the shenanigans of this man… we have no one to blame but ourselves; and,

    6) a final side note: you sound like the man himself or the new “communication specialist” we’re now paying to spin what is going on at our county board office.

  10. There are is a lot of anger, frustration and more being expressed here.

    A lot of preaching to the choir, which already knew the sermon would sound like this.

    Ersel, you laid out a lot of good information but stopped short of anything actionable.

    What I don’t see are any real solutions being presented.

    And is any of this actionable through action in the courts?

  11. Moe S. Franks (or Oliver) will block you if you criticize him on Facebook.

    Eminclake I think board members are trying to regain a sense of control without costly lawsuits.

    The problem is, Administration is conspiring with Jack.

  12. Patricia – I am well aware there are 24 members.

    23 members purport to be “republican.

    “In the No” – Letting the GOP off the hook again are we?

    I am not talking about D’s running as R’s – I am talking about the same R’s that the MCGOP spent thousands of donated dollars on campaign literature for in the most recent election.

    Some are same R’s that were selected by Republican committeeman and recommended by MCGOP leadership.

    I’m talking about the same R names that were on the mailers sent by the MCGOP talking about “Republican Strong” and claiming they would stand for smaller government and lower taxes.

    Suggesting a member is intimidated because he is new is a joke.

    Are you saying they’re not “Republican Strong”?

    and lastly, “In The No” – Pertaining to your #6 – suggesting I am “the man himself”…

    Not even close!

    I am a staunch conservative and moreso I am just not a hypocrite.

    I am a person who says what he does and does what he says.

    Principles over politics.

    Something a good number of our county board members lack.

    And I’m not saying they’re all bad.

    Gasser does his part.

    Wilcox is looking very promising, as well.

    My point is this – if 24 board members are constantly getting beat up as I continue to read here.

    Perhaps the problem isn’t the guy who’s beating them up.

    Perhaps the problem is the organization that sold us a phony bill of goods telling us these guys were winners!

    CLearly, they are NOT winning.

  13. @ Patrick McHenry.

    You miss the point,as usual.

    You have to build a fire and keep it lit under their feet.

    Many of the board members are just there to waste oxygen and use the benefits.

  14. When the issues are not laid out… and understood, you can have no resolution to the problems…

    Actually, the issues were laid out and the call for ACTION was to tell the county board members to take the county back.

    A call for each and everyone of us to talk to our neighbors, friends and families is the most important thing each of us… as TAXPAYERS… can do to get hold of the nasty problem we’ve created.

  15. you can take the S*^* out of Springfield but you can’t make it change its spots… samo, samo, samo, ..

    I know another one who loves to whine and yell when they don’t get their way and they bring on the low class to get their ways…LOL..hahaha they must be friends … who share tactics.

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