More on Jack Franks’ Riding Roughshod over County Board Members’ Rights

KnowExtremist, a commenter, adds this bit of history of Jack Franks’ usurping County Board members’ authority: Additionally, the former Management Services committee, which was traditionally charged with Rules rewrites at the beginning of each new two year Board term, was … Continue reading

Winnebago County Board Considering Requiring Administrator to Report to County Board, Rather Than to Chairman

Some of those elected to the Winnebago County Board want to take some power away from the  Republican County Board Chairman, elected at-large just like in McHenry County. In an article in today’s Rockford Register-Star entitled, “No consensus on Winnebago … Continue reading

Comparing Chicago’s Weak Mayor Form of Government with McHenry County’s Weak Chairman System

An editorial in the Chicago Tribune uses a study by former Alderman Dick Simposon (now a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago campus), Marco Rosaire Rossi and Thomas Gradel to comment on the “pliable” Chicago Aldermen. Instead of being a … Continue reading

Franks’ Patronage Push Loses in First County Board Committee

The patronage employees that Jack Franks hired without County Board authorization around Christmas last year did not received a reprieve in the Internal Services Committee yesterday. After Franks prevailed upon County Administrator Peter Austin to exceed the hiring authority granted … Continue reading

Partial Transcript of Gathering After Special County Board Meetings Adjourned for Lack of a Quorum

Commenter Mark has taken the time to prepare a transcript of that part of the Wednesday, August 23, 2017, discussion in the McHenry County Board meeting between Edgar County Watchdog Kirk Allen and County Administrator Peter Austin. Mark’s analysis of … Continue reading

Illinois Leaks Calls Out County Administrator Peter Austin and Illegalities in McHenry County 911 Comission

Edgar County Watchdogs, whose publication is Illinois Leaks, has written a second article about its visit to the McHenry County Board last Wednesday. It’s article, published with permission, can be found below: McHenry County Administrator – Two step shuffle BY KIRK … Continue reading

Jack Franks Seeks Leasing Agent for Valley Hi Nursing Home Without County Board Involvement

In a move of which no McHenry County Board member attending State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally’s fundraiser last night was aware, Jack Franks has asked for Requests for Proposals to lease Valley Hi, the County nursing home. One member of the … Continue reading

Continuing Problems Getting Meeting Called to Oust Jack Franks’ Patronage Employees

Remember the article about Peter Austin, County Administrator, and John Jung, Human Resources Chairman, not complying with County Board Rules? Well, it seems to be happening again.. After the May 23rd HR meeting both Jung and Austin refused to schedule … Continue reading

Jack Franks/Peter Austin/John Jung Won’t Allow Craig Wilcox’ Special Meeting on Firing Franks’ Patronage Employees

The following email was sent to Human Resources Chairman John Jung and McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin: Call for Human Resources Cmte meeting on June 13, 2017 Mr. Jung, Mr. Austin, Mr. Wilcox (District 4), Pursuant to the fact the … Continue reading

Another View of the Human Resources Committee Meeting on Patronage

The following was written by former McHenry County Board member Ersel Schuster: 4/12/17 McHenry County’s Internal Support & Facilities (ISF) meeting: There is no greater insult to voters/taxpayers than public officials who think their responsibility is to their own personal … 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

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

Jack Franks’ Democratic Party Patronage Communication Specialist’s Early Work Product

On January 12th, I filed the following Freedom of Information request with McHenry County: Under the FOIA I request documents showing the work product of the new Communications Specialist. Please also include copies of all emails and other electronic transmissions … Continue reading