Another View of the Human Resources Committee Meeting Last Wednesday

I wasn’t the only one to listen to the McHenry County Board’s Human Resources Committee meeting last week. You can read my take Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster gives her take below: … Continue reading

February McDOT Work of Jack Franks’ Patronage Guy

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed the following Freedom of Information request for “Any documents, reports, presentations, emails, meetings, etc. that Oliver Serafini had involving Division of Transportation, including outside vendors, elected officials, consultants, other units of government, the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 3

This is Part 3.  Part 1 can be found here. Part 2 is here. Michael Rein wondered if most jobs were not advertised on the internet and advertised. “That’s correct,” County Administrator Peter Austin replied, [but] it varies for the … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 2

Part 1 can be read here. Continuing the questioning of McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, Human Resources Board member Craig Wilcox said, “You exercised an authority that the County Board is responsible for, that we do spell out in [your … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Hires Fail HR Committee Test – Part 1

A bare majority of the McHenry County Board’s Human Resources Committee refused to rubber stamp McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks’ hiring of two patronage employees at its Wednesday meeting. By a 4-3 vote, HR Committee members voted down a … Continue reading

Still No McDOT Work Product for Jack Franks McDOT Ghost Employee

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information request with the McHenry County Department of Transportation. He asked for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation in February 2017.” Here’s the reply … Continue reading

Half-Paid from McDOT Funds, Franks Patronage Worker Gets Department Tour

A Friend of McHenry County Blog filed a Freedom of Information Request with county government on February 2nd asking for “any documents that show Oliver Serafini worked at the Department of Transportation this January.” You can read the reply below: … Continue reading

Jack Franks Patronage Worker Caught Wearing Campaign Stickers at McHenry Expo Booth for McHenry County Government

McHenry County Board member Chuck Wheeler visited the McHenry Expo Saturday. He learned that the McHenry County Board booth has now become the Jack Franks’ re-election booth. It was manned by his patronage hire Oliver Serifini and Scott Hartman. “Serifini … Continue reading

Internal Support Committee Discussing Hiring and Rules

Look at the agenda for Wednesday’s 8:15 meeting agenda below: Go to New Business, item 8 and you will read: “Discussion on the County Board Rules, Electronic Voting Rules and Electronic Voting Training” What you won’t find after the work … Continue reading

Employment Papers for Jack Franks’ Democratic Party Patronage Hires

Besides the letters previously published, below is the paperwork for the two people Jack Franks and Peter Austin hired as personal assistants to Chairman Franks. Note that no previous County Board Chairman needed an Executive Assistant or a Communications Specialist. … Continue reading

Jack Franks’ Patronage Hires for Executive Assistant & Communications Specialist

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks, with the concurrence of County Administrator Peter Austin, has hired his former legislative assistant Bridget Geenen of Lake in the Hills for $54,000 a year. When she worked for the State of Illinois she … Continue reading

NWH Endorses Reick and Skillicorn for State Rep.

The Northwest Herald has decided to endorse Republicans Steve Reick and Allen Skillicorn from State Representative over Democrats John Bartman and Nancy Zettler. The endorsement of Reick mentions that Bartman worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation, but does not … Continue reading

Mike Walkup Literature Surfaces at McHenry Parade

A four-color leaflet promoting Mike Walkup’s campaign for McHenry County Board Chairman was distributed at McHenry’s Fiesta Days Parade last Sunday. The front also points out that Walkup led the fight to cut $3 million from the property tax levied … Continue reading

Algonquin Township Republican Party to Vote on Nepotism & Patronage

In a move that seems antithetical to a political party the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee will consider a policy statement on nepotism and patronage at its upcoming 7:30 May 10th meeting at Republican Headquarters next to Joseph’s Market in … Continue reading