McHenry County Blog

When the discussion got to the Planning and Development Committee, the choice advanced by Chairman Tina Hill was newcomer Joe Gottemoller.

Gottemoller is a newly-elected member of the McHenry County Board. He has done extensive zoning work in the area and campaigned repeatedly on the over-restrictiveness and unfriendliness to business reflected in the County Zoning Ordinance.

He cited, for example, the requirement that someone operating a business out of his or her home have a separate entrance for the business.

So what does someone with extensive connections in the business community do to allay concerns about potential conflicts of interest?

Hill announced that Gottemoller’s law firm had agreed to forego any business concerning McHenry County government.

In discussions about the vice chairmanship of the Management Services Committee, someone of the Committee on Committees suggested Mike Walkup.

Another suggested Mike Skala.

Hill pointed out that Walkup had “publicly said he won’t take a chairmanship or vice chairmanship because he didn’t want [it] to appear [as] a quid pro quo.” She said it appeared in a blog comment.

Both Gottemoller and Walkup are attorneys.

An Open Letter from Stephen Willson to the Public Concerning McHenry County College’s $42 Million Health and Wellness Program Proposal.

The images included with the Open Letter contain what I think is all the pertinent information provided the Board. When Willson filed a Freedom of Information request asking for information beyond the Power Point presentation, no more detailed information was provided.

Introduction

I am writing to you because you are a community leader.

McHenry County College plans to use a loophole to issue bonds that will raise your property taxes. If you wish to prevent an unneeded tax increase, read on.

MCC developed a $640 million expansion plan based on inaccurate historical growth rates in McHenry County.

The plans were made despite the long run trend of declining enrollment in McHenry County elementary and high schools, the system that feeds students to MCC.

The plans were made without regard to Census Bureau projections of a decline in the 18-34 year old age cohort that forms the bulk of MCC’s student.

MCC wants to expand despite stating publicly that they do not even know the extent to which their current facilities are under-utilized, and despite evidence that they have substantial unused capacity in their current facilities.

Now they want to finance the first installment of their $640 million plan, an unneeded $42 million health club and classroom building.

MCC claims that a “feasibility study” supports this project.

This is false.

There has been no feasibility study.

MCC paid for and received nothing more than a marketing presentation to support their pre-determined conclusion.

Feasibility studies are created by experts in finance such as McKinsey & Company, Deloitte Touche, and Ernst & Young.

Marketing presentations are made by firms that want to sell you something.

The firms MCC that hired are NOT experts in municipal finance and junior college curricula.

Power Wellness’s manages “medically integrated fitness and wellness centers” while Wight & Co. is a construction company!

Feasibility studies are performed by independent parties that do not have a vested financial interest in the conclusion.

Marketing presentations are made by firms that want to sell you something.

The two firms hired by MCC have a HUGE financial interest in reaching a positive conclusion. Both firms want contracts for the “phase two” and “phase three” feasibility studies. (The $50,000 “phase two” contract has already been awarded to them.)

And they both want contracts if the projects is approved, one to build the project and the other to manage the health club.

A negative conclusion would prevent them from obtaining future business.

Feasibility studies are over a hundred pages of dense text and tables filled with extensive, detailed and concrete evidence to support their financial projections, and include analyses of current capacity, demand, and competition.

MCC’s so-called feasibility study is a 26 page PowerPoint presentation with zero supporting evidence.

More tomorrow. (The subject will be discussed at a Committee of the Whole meeting of the Board on Tuesday night.)

Part 2 is here.

Part 3 is here.

Multiple sources have told McHenry County Blog that the McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Office is making contact with the three newly-elected members of the County Board to advise them of the conflict of interest that would exist if they did not resign their current posts.

The three and their current positions follow:

• Carolyn Schofield, Crystal Lake City Council
• Mike Skala, Huntley District 158 School Board
• Mike Walkup, Crystal Lake Park District

Of the three, Walkup has resigned as of midnight Thursday, November 15th.

Schofield has announced her intention to resign.

Skala has said that he does not intend to resign until February.

In the article linked above, you can read  1993 opinion from Attorney General Roland Burris that concludes serving on a school board and a county board at the same time is “incompatible, and one person may not serve simultaneously in both offices.”

Delaying his resignation from the School Board until February would allow the remaining members of the Board to appoint his replacement for the next two years.

Resignation prior to being sworn into the County Board would allow people to run to fill the remaining two years of this term.

Pete Gonigam at First Electric Newspaper has details of Skala’s resignation plans.

I missed the Northwest Herald article about newly-elected McHenry County Board member Mike Skala deciding to stay on the Huntley District 158 School Board until after a suit with contractors is settled.

And, it seems that former McHenry County College Board member Scott Summers thinks Skala missed a 1993 Attorney General’s opinion from Roland Burris saying that serving on both a school board and a county board at the same time is “incompatible, and one person may not serve simultaneously in both offices.”

The NWH notes that McHenry County citizens voted 9-1 against people holding more than one office at the same time.

There is also a political impact to Skala’s not resigning until February.

The current school board would not have to worry about someone running for the vacancy.

Its members could just appoint someone with whom they felt comfortable.

You can see the results here.

The five-page opinion that Summers found can be seen below. Click to enlarge any page.

A press release from Democratic Party McHenry County Board candidate Scott Summers:

Summers calls for heightened conflict-of-interest standards

Scott Summers of rural Harvard, a Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Board (District 6), addressed county board members on Tuesday evening (May 15th) and urged them to set a high standard for all conflict-of-interest matters.

At issue was a proposed waiver to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Kris Koehler is the executive director of the McHenry County Attainable Housing Corporation, which seeks funding under a HUD program.

His father, Ken Koehler, chairs the McHenry County Board.

“I do not doubt the adequacy or sufficiency of the reviews to date. And on a personal basis, I wish the Koehler family well,” Summers said.

“But all of the affidavits and examinations and reviews and recusals in the world will not change the appearances.”

“I believe that public service carries with it daunting standards and solemn responsibilities,” Summers continued.

“It’s not enough to avoid conflicts of interest.

“In order to enjoy the confidence of our fellow citizens, we must also avoid the appearances of conflict.”

In his remarks to board members, Summers drew upon Canon 2 of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct:

“A judge should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judge’s activities.”

“Let us follow our judges onto that high road,” Summers said as he urged the board to vote “no” on the HUD waiver.

Later, in a 17-5 vote, the waiver was advanced. Board members face future votes in association with the project.

“I hope that the majority comes to a change of heart,” Summers remarked.

“The continued support and good will of the citizens of McHenry County depend upon it.”

For more information, visit www.ScottSummers.org.

= = = = =

Votes against the resolution were cast by

• Randall Donley
• Diane Evertsen
• John Hammerand
• Donna Kurtz
• Ersel Schuster

All are Republicans.

I’m reminded of what my daughter Alexandra said when she was two and a half and on her first weekend visitation provided in divorce proceedings with Robin Geist.

Alexandra was all dressed up in a pretty outfit that first weekend. We had taken her to some craft show at the Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall where she got a clothespin Big Bird, complete with feathers)  and played outside on the monkey bars.

I decided to take her to the Crystal Lake Police station to get her fingerprinted.

Alexandra threw a fit.

“I don’t need it. I don’t need it,” she screamed.

Repeatedly.

The police officer took her into a room, put the ink on her fingers, pressed them down and then helped her wash her hands in a nearby bathroom.

“That didn’t hurt a bit,” said a beaming Alexandra as she walked out of the washroom.

I thought of all the sturm und drum, the beating of breasts (use your own characterization) that preceded the passage of the conflict of interest ordinance inspired by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) in its pre-February, 2010, primary election questionnaire.

You’ll remember ethics was on the front burner then.  Most County Board candidates voluntarily completed ALAW’s questionnaire, even when it took a lot of time and effort, as it did with Vic Narusis’.

From the commotion during County Board consideration you’d think revealing real estate holdings within McHenry County was going to be so, so damaging to the officials who serve McHenry County residents.

Certainly, it was a reasonable request, considering zoning is a way to vastly increase the value of land. Potential conflicts of interest should be public knowledge for everyone having a hand in the process.

And certainly if family members are going to make a buck from county work that should be common knowledge before contracts are let or products sold.

I went to the McHenry County Clerk’s Office this week to see any of the Statements of Economic Interests had been filed.

There were about a half an inch of the blue sheets, too many for me to want to examine.

So I only asked for those of County Board members.

A number had filed.

Most showed nothing more than the old “None, None, None” Forms.

County Board Chairman Ken Koehler’s had the most writing, so today we’ll take a look at it.

One question asks if the official or members of the immediate family has “interests in real property located within the county.”

If the answer is “Yes,” the following information is requested:

“The nature of your interest in the real estate and your instrument or ownership 5ILCS 420/1-115 (deeds. common stock or preferred stock certificates, rights, warrants, options, bills of sale, contracts, interests in proprietorships, partnerships and join ventures, and beneficial interests in trusts or land trusts).”

1. 

   Click to enlarge.

   Common Stock – Flowerwood Inc+/- 17 acres located NW corner Rt.14 + 176 C.L.

2. Trust-partnership 50% +/- 17 acres located Country Club Rd Ridgefield
3. Trust-partnership 1/3 – Residence 273 Plymouth Lane, Crystal Lake

The next question asks for the location of the real property.

1. Trusts both IL Rt 176 + US 14 just NW of Flowerwood Garden Center + Flowershop
2. Trusts Country Club Road in Ridgefield NW of Alexander Lumber/borders U.P.R.R.
3. 273 Plymouth Lane, Crystal Lake

Next the Property Index Numbers are requested

1. 14-31-151-002
2. 13-24-300-018
3. 19-03-152-018

On page two, the first question is whether the person or any immediate family member has an interest in any business or professional entity doing business with McHenry County.

Koehler answered, “No.”

Then there’s a question about whether immediate family or the individual is “an officer or director or any business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public governmental agency within McHenry County.”

Koehler answered, “Yes.”

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Sherman Heath Systems, which provides “health care.”

Officials are asked if they owe anyone more than $1,200. Excluded are student loans, installment loans (cars, household effects, etc.), medical and dental debts, credit card purchases, support or alimony obligations, debts owed to spouse or close relative, and debts incurred in the maintenance of your household.”

Koehler answered, “No.”

Since he answered in the negative, he has no one to list as being indebted to.

The final question relates to having been release from an debt of $1,200 or more.

Koehler answered, “NA.”

Officials are then asked to sign a “verification” which, in part says,

“I understand that the penalty for knowingly and intentionally filing a false or incomplete statement shall be an ordinance violation subject to fines and penalties not to exceed $1,000 (55 ILCS 5/5-113).”

Whether the ordinance that the McHenry County Board passed two days ago will make any difference in the way the board does business remains to be seen.

But it is a step toward the transparency that citizens need to begin to understand whether conflicts of interest drive County Board decisions.

It passed with only two dissenting votes, Lakewood’s Scott Breeden and Huntley’s Dan Ryan.  Ryan blamed his Republican primary defeat on his unwillingness to fill out the ALAW questionnaire upon which the ordinance is based.

Here is the way Emily Berandt, the one who led the charge before Ersel Schuster’s Management Services Committee reacted:

The McHenry County Statement of Economic Interests Addendum Ordinance passed at the County Board meeting Tuesday night 22-2.Although much has been deleted or changed since we presented the original draft, much of what is really important remains.

This new addendum requires county officials to disclose all real estate holdings, business and professional relationships and larger indebtednesses to entities doing business with county or local governments.

When this ordinance was proposed, we said that this was McHenry County’s opportunity to be a leader in a nationwide movement toward greater transparency in government.

ALAW urged McHenry County to take a preemptive strike against accusations of self dealing and to restore the public trust in its elected officials.  We are pleased that the county has stepped up to the plate.

Thank you to all who were involved in this process.

Emily Berendt
Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW )

The vote was 22-2 with defeated Dan Ryan and mid-term Scott Breeden voting against it.

Called the McHenry County Statement of Economic Interests Addendum Ordinance, it passed last night. It was championed by the Alliance for Land, Agriculture and Water (ALAW) starting a little less than a year ago.

Candidates for County Board climbed aboard, voluntarily filling out the expanded “ethics” questionnaire in order to position themselves on the popular side of this issue in this corrupt state.

Here’s what’s in the ordinance:

McHENRY COUNTY STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS ADDENDUM ORDINANCE

Article I – Purpose and Intent

The provisions of this ordinance are to continue to ensure confidence to the residents of McHenry County (hereinafter referred to as “County”) in their elected and appointed public officials by creating an addendum to the Illinois Statement of Economic Interests which will provide for a more transparent government. The ordinance is adopted pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-1113 as amended from time to time. This ordinance is not intended to replace the provisions of 5 ILCS 420/4A, et seq. Disclosure of Economic Interests, but to enact financial disclosure requirements that require information in addition to that which is currently required under said Act., as permitted by 5 ILCS 420/4A-101 Persons Required to File, that reads as follows: This Section shall not be construed to prevent any unit of local government from enacting financial disclosure requirements that mandate more information than required by this Act.

Article II – Definitions For purposes of this Ordinance, the following words and terms shall be given the meaning as defined in Article II of this Ordinance.

1. Doing business with the county or any other local, public government” means the person, business or professional entity has a relationship of a contractual nature with the county or any other local, public government in McHenry County within the last 36 months for the provision of goods or services to the county or to any unit of the county or any other local, public government in McHenry County.

2. “Immediate family” means an individual’s spouse, dependent children, or others if the interest herein required to be disclosed is constructively controlled by the person required to file a conflict of interest disclaimer and/or statement of economic interest pursuant to state statutes.

3. “Interest” means an economic, contractual, and beneficial or ownership interest in the proceeding or action, including an interest in real property affected by the proceeding or action.

4. “Professional entity” means an entity that provides professional services as defined in 5 ILCS 420/1-116, to wit: services rendered in the practice of law, accounting, engineering, medicine, architecture, dentistry or clinical psychology. For purposes of this ordinance, Professional Entity also includes any other entity whose business must be licensed or conducted by persons required to be licensed in their profession.

5. “Real property” means property consisting of land, buildings, crops or other resources still attached to or within the land or improvements or fixtures permanently attached to the land or a structure on it.

Article III – Disclosure of Economic Interests Addendum

(a) All elected or appointed county public officials shall file with the county clerk, a verified Addendum to Statement of Economic Interests responding in detail to the following questions:

1. Other than your principal residence, do you or any members of your immediate family own any interest in real property located within the County? __________ If your answer is affirmative, state the following information for each such interest owned:

a. The nature of your interest in the real property and your instrument of ownership as defined in 5 ILCS 420/1-115 (deeds, common or preferred stock certificates, rights, warrants, options, bills of sale, contracts, interests in proprietorships, partnerships and joint ventures, and beneficial interests in trusts or land trusts).

b. The location of the real property (for improved property, provide the street address; for unimproved property, state its location in relation to existing streets);

c. The property’s permanent real estate tax identification number. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you or members of your immediate family own an interest in any business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other public/local government agency within McHenry County? _______. Are you or any members of your immediate family an officer or director of any business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government agency within McHenry County? ____________ If your answer to either of the foregoing questions is in the affirmative, state the following: the name of the business or professional entity, the nature of your relationship to the business or professional entity; the type of product produced or service rendered by the business or professional entity and the extent or percentage of the interest. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3. Other than a debt to secure a mortgage upon your principal residence or business loan are you or members of your immediate family indebted to any person or business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government within McHenry County?

Circle One: YES NO

If yes, list each such person, business or professional entity to which you or members of your immediate family are indebted and the amount of each debt. EXCLUDE: Any liability of $1,200.00 or less; student loans; installment loans (cars, household effects, ect.); medical and dental debts; credit card purchases; support or alimony obligations; debts owed to spouse or close relative; and debts incurred in the maintenance of your household.

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. If you or members of your immediate family have been released from any indebtedness from any person, business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government within McHenry County exceeding in its principal amount of $1,200.00 within the last year without repaying the total balance due on such indebtedness, list the name of the creditor providing the release, the nature and the amount of the indebtedness, and describe the circumstances surrounding the release. EXCLUDE: Any liability of $1,200.00 or less; student loans; installment loans (cars, household effects, ect.); medical and dental debts; credit card purchases; support or alimony obligations; debts owed to spouse or close relative; and debts incurred in the maintenance of your household. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

(b) All elected or appointed county public officials shall file with the county clerk, on an annual basis, an Addendum to Statement of Economic Interests in conjunction with the Statement of Economic Interests to be filed with the Secretary of State pursuant to 5 ILCS 420/4A-105.

Article IV – Applicability of Other Laws Nothing in this ordinance shall be deemed to in any way restrict the application of any state, local or common law provision with respect to conflict of interest, malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office or employment that would otherwise be applicable to any individual subject to the provisions of this ordinance. The provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed to be additional requirements and shall in no way be construed as a derogation of present statutory penalties and other local remedies for acts prohibited in this ordinance.

Article V – Procedures and Duties of County Clerk The relevant provisions of 5 ILCS 420/4A, et seq. are hereby incorporated into this code as procedure regarding time for filing, where to file, notification to persons required to file, penalties for failure to file and other miscellaneous provisions. The county clerk will receive and maintain a log of all complaints made against individuals subject to this ordinance. All complaints against elected or appointed county officials, county department heads, or the county administrator alleging a violation of the disclosure provision of this ordinance shall be submitted to the State’s Attorney for investigation. AGENDA

Article VI – Penalty for Violation of Ordinance

The penalty for knowingly and intentionally filing a false or incomplete statement shall be an ordinance violation subject to fines and penalties not to exceed $1,000.00 pursuant to 5 ILCS 5/5-1113. All ordinance violations shall be filed within the McHenry County Circuit Court located at 2200 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock, Illinois. AGENDA #________ Stmt Economic Interests Addendum Ordinance 111610

ADDENDUM TO STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS TO BE FILED WITH THE CLERK OF McHENRY COUNTY, ILLINOIS

______________________________________________________________

(Name of person for which this Addendum is Filed)

_______________________________________________

(List each Office or Position of Employment for which this Addendum is Filed) (Full Post Office Address to which Notification of an Examination of this Addendum should be Sent)

GENERAL DIRECTIONS The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party; including dependent children or others of interest, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement. Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement. If additional space is needed, please attach a supplemental listing.

1. Other than your principal residence, do you or any members of your immediate family own any interest in real property located within the County? __________ If your answer is affirmative, state the following information for each such interest owned:

a. The nature of your interest in the real property and your instrument of ownership as defined in 5 ILCS 420/1-115 (deeds, common or preferred stock certificates, rights, warrants, options, bills of sale, contracts, interests in proprietorships, partnerships and joint ventures, and beneficial interests in trusts or land trusts).

b. The location of the real property (for improved property, provide the street address; for unimproved property, state its location in relation to existing streets); c. The property’s permanent real estate tax identification number. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you or members of your immediate family own an interest in any business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other public/local government agency within McHenry County? _______. Are you or any members of your immediate family an officer or director of any business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government agency within McHenry County? ____________

If your answer to either of the foregoing questions is in the affirmative, state the following: the name of the business or professional entity, the nature of your relationship to the business or professional

entity; the type of product produced or service rendered by the business or professional entity and the extent or percentage of the interest. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3. Other than a debt to secure a mortgage upon your principal residence or business loan are you or members of your immediate family indebted to any person or business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government within McHenry County?

Circle One: YES NO If yes, list each such person, business or professional entity to which you or members of your immediate family are indebted and the amount of each debt. EXCLUDE: Any liability of $1,200.00 or less; student loans; installment loans (cars, household effects, ect.); medical and dental debts; credit card purchases; support or alimony obligations; debts owed to spouse or close relative; and debts incurred in the maintenance of your household. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. If you or members of your immediate family have been released from any indebtedness from any person, business or professional entity doing business with the County or any other local, public government within McHenry County exceeding in its principal amount of $1,200.00 within the last year without repaying the total balance due on such indebtedness, list the name of the creditor providing the release, the nature and the amount of the indebtedness, and describe the circumstances surrounding the release. EXCLUDE: Any liability of $1,200.00 or less; student loans; installment loans (cars, household effects, ect.); medical and dental debts; credit card purchases; support or alimony obligations; debts owed to spouse or close relative; and debts incurred in the maintenance of your household. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Verification: “I declare that this Disclosure of Economic Interests (including any accompanying attachments) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the McHenry County Economic Interests Resolution and Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Ordinance. I understand that the penalty for knowingly and intentionally filing a false or incomplete statement shall be an ordinance violation subject to fines and penalties not to exceed $1,000.00 (5 ILCS 5/5-1113).”

_____________ ____________________________________________________

(Date of filing)     (Signature of person making the statement)

An email from the Alliance of Land, Agriculture and Water about the McHenry County Board’s upcoming consideration of a more revealing conflict of interest ordinance follows:

Dear ALAW Members and Supporters,

We need your support more than ever Tuesday night!

The revised Disclosure Ordinance (Statement of Economic Interests) that ALAW presented to the County Board in December 2009, is reaching the County Board floor for a vote on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

The ordinance is the last thing on the agenda.

Please come to the meeting to show that you want this new level of transparency in McHenry County.

If you wish to speak in favor of passage that’s great!

If not just sign in as “for” the ordinance and be there as solid support.

Although much has been removed from the original ordinance and form, what is left is very important – full disclosure of real estate holdings and business/professional relationships.

Please help fill up the board room to let your county board representatives know you want this passed!

It’s about time!.

A copy of the revised ordinance is on the ALAW web site on this page.

Former District 300 Board member was out of the country on his new job when I emailed him asking what he thought his accomplishments were.

Interestingly, he did not mention getting elected as a Home School Dad. In 2007, he was one of two McHenry County Home School Dad’s to win a school board seat.

The other was John O’Neill, now a candidate for state representative against veteran incumbent Democrat Jack Franks.

Ryan got more votes than any of the other eight candidates when he ran for the Carpentersville School Board. He defeated incumbent School Board President Mary Fioretti.

I asked him to reflect on his accomplishments. Here’s his reply:

“As you may recall, my campaign was based upon a pledge of both fiscal and ethical accountability and transparency.

“To that end, there are several accomplishments I have particularly strong feelings about.

“I am very pleased that I was able to disprove the image of me that was portrayed by my adversaries and earn the trust of my colleagues, administration and staff of D300.

“Through my conduct, I believe I was able to show all of them that just because someone aspires to a high standard, and as such will occasionally disagree with group think, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an enemy.

“Just the opposite – often times you’re the voice of reason and conscience.

“While it has often been referred to as ‘pay to play,’  I think ‘conflict of interest’ describes the policy more accurately.

“Besides the practical benefits of its implementation, such a policy sends a strong message in regard to the values a Board hold important.  I am proud that I didn’t give up on it after it was defeated the first time around, and of the collaborative approach used to get it ultimately approved.

“The degree of opposition by a key administrator both times around was initially stunning and proved quite revealing in regard to how entrenched and pervasive the ‘me first’ attitude of educrats really is.

“I am proud of the tasks accomplished under my watch as Chair of the Policy & Legislative as well as the Construction and Facilities Oversight Committees.

“In particular, strengthening D300′s policies on

• bullying, harassment and intimidation;
• authoring the cash reserve policy that saved taxpayers $2,000,000 by producing a 5-tier increase in D300′s credit ratings;
• developing specific protocols for construction change orders (a good topic for an in depth investigative article would be an audit of the referendum projects before these guides were in place);
• implementation of a FOIA policy which proactively posts the D300 ‘checkbook,’
• BOE meeting packets and FOIA responses online; as well as
• working with our local legislators to get a common sense ADA implementation bill signed into law (and subsequently being appointed to the C(aptial) D(evelopment) B(oard)’s ADA Task Force as a result).

“Lastly, although my role was minor,  I am pleased that my efforts as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee played a role in implementing the ‘Educational Program Review Technique’ (EPRT) process that was the foundation for eliminating D300′s $27M deficit in two years. (Credit must be given to Dr. (Cheryl) Crates for initiating the process).”

I next asked Ryan to reflect on his activity in the successful referendums passed by District 300:

“I strongly opposed the referendum – specifically the lack of fiscal discipline, integrity and transparency that necessitated it in the first place.

“Even more so, I stood opposed to the less than forthright tactics used by its proponents to secure its passage.  The same is true for the questionable interpretation of the Open Meetings Act and the post-referendum bonus paid to Dr. (Ken) Arndt by the preceding Board.

“I made one thing clear upon my inauguration though – what was done was done.  It passed and as such, I took it as my responsibility to ensure its promises were kept.”

And, Ryan has a final word:

“In closing, I guess the end of my resignation letter sums it up best.

“I will be eternally grateful to those who placed their confidence and trust in me; and I depart knowing I can honestly say ‘promises kept!’”