Jack Franks’ Lobbying County Board Members Behind Closed Doors Criticized

Former McHenry County Board member and District 6 candidate Ersel Schuster’s take-away from last Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting:

Transparency?

A very telling, and otherwise interesting bit of information surfaced during the 10/12/17 McHenry County Board’s Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting\ (www.co.mchenry.il.us/meetingportal).

At issue is a stand-alone resolution included in the board’s 10/17/17 business agenda.

This resolution is crafted with the goal of preventing countywide elected officials from participating in the long-established, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), retirement program.

A brainchild of McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks, it has been heard to have been labeled “just another political stunt.”

Moreover, the concept has already been rejected in other counties.

Discussion on the subject was long, including numerous unresolved questions, suggestions and challenges.

Also presented was an alternative resolution.

The Chairman, from the podium, argued and defended his masterpiece suggesting that his was the legally viable option despite not having been reviewed by the county board’s legal team.

Jack Franks

When it began to look as though the alternate resolution was gaining support, the Chairman, put a punctuation mark on his argument by stating

“14 members already agreed with his proposal.”

The practice of working county board members over, one at a time, without the transparency of regular and open meetings, is exactly what most right-thinking voters strenuously object to.

Exposed by that statement was a clear and real-life definition of

  • “back-room”
  • “Springfield type”

politics.

Clearly, this is a deliberate and malicious method of circumventing normal procedures, practices and policies of the county board.

Ultimately, he is treating board members as bumbling lackeys as they yield to his tactics.

All from the very person who continually claims, via personal declarations, that he has brought open and transparent government to McHenry County.

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The topic will be discussed at tonight’s meeting, which starts at 7 and can be heard and seen here.


Comments

Jack Franks’ Lobbying County Board Members Behind Closed Doors Criticized — 7 Comments

  1. The day hardly goes by that we aren’t reminded of just how badly we need to ‘Drain the Swamp’.

    This malicious mischief can be fixed, but it will take an election (or two) to do it.

  2. Schuster’s criticisms are ridiculous.

    We finally have a county board chairman who is asking opinions and communicating with his members.

    Additionally, this is nothing like Springfield where people can meet openly and discuss things in a group.

    Because of the Open Meetings Act, you must meet individually with people otherwise you’d be violating the law.

    Franks is following the law and doing it right.

    Schuster’s criticisms show why she was such an inept board member that’s been bounced out of office and had to file bankruptcy.

  3. That and some current Board members growing some.

    Franks has done away with the State’s Attorney and is now giving himself his own legal advice.

    The problem is that he is often wrong and can get the county into legal hot water, which will cost the taxpayers.

  4. Let’s face it…If he was actually any good as a lawyer, he wouldn’t need (nor have time for) this job.

    Bully tactics and intimidation don’t make you a big fish in Lake Springfield, so let’s downsize the power trip and take over McHenry County Swamp.

    Nothing but skittish, yokel, bottom-feeders there.

    Easy pickings, and you get used to the taste.

    Elect Troy Landry county board chairman!

  5. Look closely at the picture as McHenry County board Chairman points to the future like the great and visionary leader he is. Or perhaps Mr. Franks is pointing our paparazzi sunshine blogger to the exit door after being interrupted by his rude, in-the-face-picture taking. In any case, thank you sunshine blogger for reminding us about our great board chairman…tic, tock, tic, tock…

  6. Seriously?

    We’re now opposed to 1-on-1 conversations between the Board Chairman and individual board members?

    Really?

    Did Schuster never talk to board members outside of a board meeting about an upcoming issue?

  7. Schuster is a hack.

    As is Cal for allowing this ridiculous article from her to be posted.

    The chairman is doing exactly what he was elected to do.

    Get county government to function. He is following open meetings act by having conversations one on one. And from the sounds of it, he is having conversations with most members.

    Even ones he disagrees with.

    She needs to stay far away from the board.

    Just retire already.

    Time for some fresh faces and perspectives.

    She brings nothing to the table.

    Only experience of the good old days.

    Time to move on.

    It’s called progress.

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