McHenry County Blog

Below is the report upon which the old McHenry County College Board voted for 5-2.

Well, it’s not quite what the Board voted on.

The Board did not set President Vicky Smith’s compensation.

Read the report carefully.

Voting in favor were the two longest serving Board members who lost the election–Barbara Walters and Carol Larson. They were joined by holdovers Mary Miller, Linda Liddell and Cynthia Kisser.

Voting against extending MCC President Vicky Smith’s contract through the middle of 2015 were Ron Parrish and Dennis Adams. It was almost Adams’ last vote since he retired from the Board.

To understand what happened at Thursday night McHenry County Board meeting, you need to read this report carefully.

Do you see the problem?

Read the recommendation:

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approves extending Dr. Smith’s contract through June 30, 2015 and to set compensation as discussed in Closed Session.

Do you note that the report does not tell the public the salary and benefits?

I surely did and was ready to file complaints with both the McHenry County State’s Attorney and the Illinois Attorney General about the seeming violation of the Open Meetings Act had the Board approved the report as presented in the Board Packet.

But the old members didn’t do that.

After the closed session, undoubtedly upon the advice of their attorneys, the Board considered a motion which excluded compensation

So, the outgoing Board got half of what it wanted.

Smith’s contract has been extended another twelve months after June 30. 2014, but her salary has not been set.

Newly-elected McHenry County College Board members Chris Jenner, Tom Wilbeck and Molly Walsh were sworn in four and a half hours after the meetings began.

That will be up to the carryover Board members and those newly-elected and now sworn in:

• Molly Walsh
• Chris Jenner
• Tom Welbeck

A new Student Trustee named Michele Lambert was previously sworn in.

There was public comment from 6:30 to 7:45.  Again there was not enough room for the taxpaying public.  Overflow folks were directed to the auditorium way across campus.

But, there were almost a row and half out of the three rows of chairs reserved for MCC employees who certainly could have sat in chairs outside until their turn in the program came.

The commenters were divided into three parts:

• Those supporting an extension of Smith’s contract
• Those opposed to an extension of Smith’s contract
• Those supporting the theater program whose 80-seat Black Box Theater seems destined to become the location of a greatly expanded robotics program

I’d love to give you a blow-by-blow account of the comments, but the new Board didn’t adjourn until 12:10 Friday.

Suffice is to say that both Chris Jenner and Molly Walsh asked the old Board not to extend Smith’s contract.

Jenner pointed out that there were nearing three months for the holdover Board members to explain to the new Trustees why Smith deserved to have her contract extended.

“I don’t believe any of us have passed judgment on Dr. Smith.”

“I really feel strongly that the incoming Board should be making the decision on terms and working conditions,” Walsh added as the last one to provide public comment.

“An action tonight is really disregarding the new Board members.

“Lets work together.”

Their pleas were ignored.

Very shortly after the old Board took its last gasp by voting for Smith’s contract extension, the new Board was sworn in.  That was at 10:45 Thursday night.

From foreground going around the table are Trustee Cynthia Kisser, Secretary Chris Jenner, Student Trustee Michele Lambert, MCC President Vicky Smith, Board President Ron Parrish and Trustees Molly Walsh and Tom Wilbeck, Vice Chair Linda Liddell and outgoing Board President Mary Miller.

Then, the tables were turned.

Jenner nominated Ron Parrish to be the new Board President.  Wilbeck provided the second.

Liddell nominated Kisser.  I believe Miller seconded that nomination.

Three to three.

The deciding vote seemed to belong to newcomer Walsh.

A secret ballot was taken and the vote came out 4-3 in favor of Parrish, who had been very much the minority member on the old Board.

For Vice Chair, it was Wilbeck vs. Liddell.

3-3 with, I presume, Walsh breaking the tie in favor of Liddell.

Wilbeck nominated Jenner for Secretary and no one else wanted the job so he got it.

I wish I had managed to make it to the McHenry County College Board meeting earlier.

From what Woodstock Advocate blogger Gus Philpott said in the public comment section of the meeting, the room was packed with college employees when he arrived.

No room for ordinary taxpayers to sit.

The three rows in the MCC Board room were filled after the employees left.

Philpott gave thanks to President Vicky Smith for convincing them to leave.  I guess they went to an “overflow” area in the huge front hall nearby.   That’s where I saw a screen set up on the way out.

Cynthia Kisser

Cynthia Kisser began the meeting by asking for the controversial item–the extension of Smith’s contract–be postponed until the Thursday after next.

Ron Parrish

“I completely agree,” Ron Parrish replied.

That was also met with agreement from fellow Board members.

That’s the last day Carol Larson, Barbara Walters and Dennis Adams will be in office.  Larson and Walters lost the election; Adams retired.

It was not clear whether that postponement was until the last meeting of the outgoing Board or the first meeting of the reconstituted Board after Molly Walsh, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck are sworn in.

Then, it was on to public comment.

“Thank you very much for coming,” Board President Mary Miller said before the first person, Grafton Township Assessor-elect Al Zielinski spoke.

Al Zielinski urged the Board to act in a “business-like” manner.

Zielinski urged Board members to act in a more business-like manner.

Jane Collins asked the Board to “respect the results of the election.”

Philpott urged the Board to include that they were going to vote on a contract extension on the next agenda, if that were their intent.

Jane Collins, a fixture at MCC Board meetings, pointed out that if the “old Board” were to make the decision next week, “nothing has changed.”

She said that would be the same as saying, “We’re not going to respect the results of the election.”

“We don’t trust you to make informed decisions,” she continued.

Collins, it should be noted, was part of the group that put up signs supporting Molly Walsh, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck.

Woodstock’s Molly Oakford said she “was here for the students.”

She urged the Board to show the “highest level of standards of excellence.”

Molly Oakford asks the Board to live up to “standards of excellence.”

Referring to what was on the agenda, she asserted, “The process is wrong.  The process does not [meet] standards of excellence…

“This meeting should never have been held.  It’s shameful.  It’s railroading.

“I want to see our Board conduct itself in a standard of excellence.”

Former Board member George Lowe urged members to allow the new Board to make the decision.

Former MCC Trustee George Lowe then weighed in.

“I think it behooves you to give them [the new trustees] a chance to vote on the contract.

“If not, it’s a gotcha!”

MCC Instructor James Gould said it wold be “anti-democratic” for the old Board to make the decision.

Philosophy and Ethics Instructor James Gould also expressed disapproval.  He thanked Larson for her 24 years of being a “faithful advocate for the employees” and urged Board members to think about the good reputation and image of the college.

He called the effort to act on extending Smith’s contract “anti-democratic and, in effect, subvert[ing] the will of the public.

“I ask that decision be made by the new Board.”

MCC Instructor Marla Garrison defended the Board.

The only person speaking in favor of the old Board extending Smith’s contract was Biology Instructor Marla Garrison.

She told of the “erosion of confidence” during “the four years of rapid turnover administration.”

“I don’t believe lame ducks.  This Board is an active Board and was elected by the community regardless of what happens next.

“For the past two years, I’ve felt energized…the status quo was no more.”

Chris Jenner said the Board had seven weeks to act on the contract extension.

New Board member Chris Jenner spoke next.

He pointed that he had talked to no Board members about Smith and that the Board had seven weeks to act on her contract.

“There seems to be ample time,” he said, asking the current Board to allow its successor to make the decision.

I spoke next, pointing out I was the only one in the room who had been at the meeting called to form the college.  (Cal Skinner, Sr., called the meeting and served on the first board.)

Steve Willson said the Board faced “a test of integrity.”

I asked the members who would not be on the next Board to think of the harm they would do to the college’s reputation and their own if they acted on the contract extension before leaving office.

I also requested that the reports be made available to the public prior to the meeting.

Steve Wilson, just out of cataract surgery read a statement to the Board:

“This is a test, a test of integrity.

“A week ago 70% of the people who went to the polls voted AGAINST the incumbents.

“If Liddell, Kisser and Miller vote for this contract, it shows they have no respect for the voters and no respect for their new colleagues.

“And if Vicky Smith accepts a contract voted by this lame duck board, over the objection of the new trustees, it will prove she also has no respect for the new board, no integrity, and that she is simply looking for a big golden parachute on her way out the door, grabbing for a half million dollars of taxpayers’ money.”

The Northwest Herald’s Kevin Craver has been a busy guy.

He just posted a scathing piece on his blog, “Opening Doors.”

The subject is the very “special” meeting of the McHenry County College Board to extend the contract of President Vicky Smith’s contract, which does not expire until the middle of 2014.

Craver asks if the meeting notice complies with the new provisions of the Open Meetings Act.

The agenda for Tuesday night’s McHenry County College Board meeting does not say that a vote will be taken on extending President Vicky Smith’s contract.

Undoubtedly any vote will be brought to the attention of the Public Access Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Walt Packard got a Golden Parachute when he was ousted from the MCC Presidency after the minor league baseball and broadcast tower fiascos.

It takes the AG’s Office a long time to render a decision, however.

But back to my headline.

Does anyone on the Board–holdovers or thos whose term of office is over April 25th–think that

will improve the College’s image?

Carol Larson and Barbara Walters had the best ballot positions, but that did not help them to emerge victorious.  If MCC’s image had been favorable, wouldn’t they have won?

Certainly, the “re-branding” under Smith’s leadership didn’t or two of her biggest supporters wouldn’t have lost the election so badly.

So, I ask the current Trustees:

Do you really care about the future of McHenry County College?

If you do, cancel this meeting.

Don’t take action that will get you another negative front page story in the Northwest Herald.

And, who knows, the Daily Herald might even send a reporter and make the situation worse.

The email address is mcctrustees@mchenry.edu for those who wish to comment on the situation.

Someone seems to have stimulated a change in agenda the McHenry County Board’s Special Meeting on Tuesday night at 6 to extend President Vicky Smith’s contract for no-one-know-how-long-yet because the public has been given access to the document.

MCC Board Agenda for April 16th without allowing public comment.

Gus Philpott commented , “Actually, the agenda published by the College does NOT meet the new Open Meetings Act (OMA) guidelines, not that that will stop the Trustees in their tracks.”

He, however, thought the deficiency was “The agenda (above) fails to state that action will be taken on a contract extension.”

Somebody at the McHenry County College must have thought something was wrong with the agenda, becauset a revised agenda at 9:16 Sunday morning.

It didn’t change the contract extension part, but it did add a time for public comment.

Even if the agenda had not been changed, the Board would only  scheduled another meeting before

• Molly Walsh
• Chris Jenner
• Tom Wilbeck

got sworn in.

They will replace defeated Trustees Carol Larson and Barbara Walters, plus retiring Trustee Dennis Adams.

Those wishing to comment on the process may email  mcctrustees@mchenry.edu.

Of course, the answer is obvious.

Two of the Vicky Smith supporters will no longer be on the McHenry County College Board on May 24, 2013.

New members are being sworn in on April 25.

The longest serving members–Barbara Walters and Carol Larson–lost their bids for re-election last Tuesday.

While there are some votes in Kane and Lake County (in Lake County Chris Jenner and Erik Sivertsen were knocked off the ballot by the County Clerk), the McHenry County results below show the disaffection voters had for the two women.

Carol Larson, Mike Smith and Barbara Walters had the best ballot positions, but that did not help them to emerge victorious.

Last year, Smith’s contract was renewed on May 24th, as you can see below:

The 2012 contract renewal was approved on May 24th.

So, the rational person might leap to the conclusion that Larson and Walters have convinced their colleagues to act on the college President’s contract renewal this year before the winners of last week’s election–Molly Walsh, Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck–are sworn in later this month.

When’s the 6 PM meeting at which the contract will be voted upon?

Tuesday night at 6, the McHenry County College will consider extending President Vicky Smith’s contract.

And how would I characterize this plan?

The Church Lady is not the only one observing, “Isn’t that special?”

And, what can you do about?

The Trustees do not have individual email addresses that are provided on the college website.

Instead all emails are directed to mcctrustees@mchenry.edu.

Some readers might want to leave a message.

‘”Isn’t that special?”

Vicky Smith

It is unfortunately too common that, after elected officials lose an election, they want to exert one last gasp of power.

McHenry County College will see three of its Board members replaced in just days.

Dennis Adams decided not to run for re-election.

Carol Larson and Barbara Walters lost their attempts at re-election.

So, three-sevenths of the Board will be new before May, yet the old board members have scheduled a “Special board meeting” on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 P.M.

What so special about it?

The main order of business is to extend the contract of President Vicky Smith.

As nearly as I can determine without having the contract, it appears to be up July 9th.

Tuesday night at 6, the McHenry County College will consider extending President Vicky Smith’s contract.  No copy of the proposed contract extension language is posted.

Almost forgot, they are also going to deal with emergency repairs to storm and sanitary sewers.  No copy of the report is available over the internet.

The Trustees do not have individual email addresses that are provided on the college website.

Instead all emails are directed to mcctrustees@mchenry.edu.

Some readers might want to leave a message.

A press release from the folks supporting Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck for McHenry County College Board:

Ron Parrish Endorses Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner for McHenry County College Board

Ron Parrish

Ron Parrish, who has been a McHenry County College trustee for three years, has endorsed Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner in the upcoming April 9 election.

It is very unusual for a sitting board member to endorse two newcomers when there are incumbents seeking re-election.

Parrish has often been the lone vote against the current expansion project and against higher taxes and tuition. Before joining the board, Parrish was a member of the MCC Foundation Board and co-founder of the district-wide Promise program that offered free tuition for all high school graduates living in the district.

Said Parrish, “It’s time for a change at McHenry County College. We need fresh thinking, people who are independent, people who put students ahead of new buildings. Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner display both independence and remarkable common sense.”

The current MCC board has taken several actions indicating it plans to issue over $42 million in property-tax backed bonds without a referendum to build a 30,000 square foot health club and to double the amount of classroom space they have.

Wilbeck has been in the finance business for more than 30 years. He’s a local business owner and a former Township trustee.

Jenner has served on the Cary School District board for eight years where he authored a policy forbidding the District from issuing any bonds without a referendum.

Continuing on my effort to post literature from candidates, here is what MCC Board candidates Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner are distributing.

This is the front of the door know hanger prepared to promote the campaign of Chris Jenner and Tom Wilbeck for McHenry County College Board.

The back of the literature promoting the election of Tom Wilbeck and Chris Jenner to the McHenry County College Board has little snippets of information about all nine candidates.

Those wishing some to hand out may email tomwilbeck@yahoo.com or cjenner01@yahoo.com.

Eight of the nine candidates for the McHenry County Board showed up to face a small fraction of the public at the MCC auditorium Monday night.

From left to right are Scott Alford, Chris Jenner, Carol Larson, Erik Sivertsen, Mike Smith, Molly Walsh, Arne Waltmire and Tom Wilbeck.

There were

• Scott Alford
• Chris Jenner
• Carol Larson
• Erik Sivertsen
• Mike Smith
• Molly Walsh
• Arne Waltmire
• Tom Wilbeck

Missing was long-time incumbent Barbara Walters.

From left to right are Scott Alford, Chris Jenner, Carol Larson, Erik Sivertsen, Mike Smith, Molly Walsh, Arne Waltmire and Tom Wilbeck.

There was really only one question I wanted answered and that was whether the candidates would borrow tens of millions of dollars without asking permission in a referendum.

There was good news. All but incumbent Larson seems to say they would not. And, of course, there was no answer from Walters.

Here’s what was said in answer to a question asking whether they would favor such a referendum:

• Alford – “The taxpayers need to make the decision.”
• Jenner – “I would require the permission of taxpayers to raise taxes.
• Larson – “I would not be for a referendum now. Referendums are expensive and they don’t usually pass.”
• Sivertsen – I think it’s important [to hold a referendum] before the college issues bonds.”
• Smith – “I would.”
• Walsh – “Yes, any expansion plan should be community supported.”
• Waltmire – “If there’s a need to build, the Board should take [it} out to the community.”
• Wilbeck – “Absolutely. 61% comes from the taxpayers. The use of alternative revenue bonds is not really a good funding source.”

Linda Liddell

Cynthia Kisser

Five out of seven.

That’s the number of women who will be serving on the McHenry County College Board after new members are sworn in.

Robert DeWitt

George Lowe

In last week’s election, two women, Linda Liddel and Cynthia Kisser. took the six-year terms.

Dennis Adams

Losing was long-time member George Lowe and appointed member Robert DeWitt, who took Scott Summers place.

For the two-year term, a man did win.

Dennis Adams, appointed to fill out Donna Kurtz’ term beat another man, Dave Boger.

But, there are three women who were not up for election this year:

Carol Larson

• Carol Larson
• Mary Miller
• Barbara Walters

Mary Miller

Barbara Walter

Ron Parish, elected President of Bull Valley this spring, also occupies a seat on the board.

Ron Parish

Student Trustee Cody Sheriff is also male, but his term expires this month and, while he can talk, he can’t vote.

Vicky Smith

And, of course, Vicky Smith is the new MCC President.

What role do you think gender will have on McHenry County College?

Will new member Linda Liddell get her wish to tape record and archive what is said at McHenry County College Board meetings?

Will Dennis Adams continue to approach college affairs from his businessman’s point of view.

Any thoughts on the future of the college?