McHenry County Blog

Published with permission of John Coonen of Crystal Lake Network is his after the McHenry County Board meeting's


It's long, but I think you'll find it worth the time.

Well, sometimes - depending upon the dynamics of a group - the white-hot spotlight has the ability to weld together a group; however, sometimes, it exposes the group's weaknesses and inherent fears, and the group melts into a puddle of goo, right before your eyes.

That's what transpired in tonight's marathon session at MCC during Chairperson Glosson's Committee of the Whole as they worked on setting the agenda for this coming Thursday night's Board Meeting.

Tonight, the Committee of the Whole would have honestly benefited from a "time out," rather than continuing a session that was destined to fail from the moment the public comments were over. This committee meeting went from bad, to worse; and at the end of the night, with only five of us out in the audience, the group came utterly unglued.

The public comments were not quite as long as the recent City of Crystal Lake's public commentary. Tonight, about fifteen citizens spoke. There were perhaps 35-40 people present for the first part of the meeting - until it went into closed session at around 9:15 or so (approximately), when the majority of folks left.

There was not even one "supporter" of the athletic ball field among the public commentary. Every speaker, however, assured the Trustees that though they were disapproving of the direction of the ball field piece of the plan, they were in strong support of MCC as an institution. Many of the speakers even offered to help them with fund raising, or a potential referendum, should they decide to change course, as opposed to their plans for a $35 million bond issuance.

Then, the Battle Gear Went On.

I was able to record about two-thirds of the meeting on my camcorder (before the battery seized up), and several people brought their own audio devices, to capture the meeting. Frankly, I think I'll record over it. It's more of a dirty laundry airing than a board committee meeting.

It was surely a low-point for all seven Trustees tonight, as the agenda was quickly shortened to one subject - and that subject was not even on the agenda. What was it? The subject of Board unity (or lack thereof), censure, and at least one Trustee calling for another to resign a Chairmanship position.

An expert consultant was brought in (from Iowa) - a Mr. Wayne Newton, a consultant specializing in board development, team building and governance. Immediately following the public comments, he was introduced and a motion (of sorts) was made to censure Trustees Kurtz and Summers by the other Trustees. While this seemed like a prudent thing to do on the surface, it was.

Neither Kurtz nor Summers was made aware that the consultant would be there, nor was it on the agenda. If I had some ESP going on, I might have sensed that the "fix" was in by other board Trustees, as Kurtz and Summers had no idea they were about to be chastised by a board scorned - scorned by the two Trustees' recent comments at last week's City Council meeting. I believe it was Trustee Larson who said tonight's lesson was the "two-by-four" needed to remind Trustees Summers and Kurtz of their fiduciary responsibilities.

A "two by four?" Oh, please. If a board development session was in order, which it surely is, then ample notice should have been given, and a less formal, if not relaxed, social setting should have been dialed up for this group that's now firmly mired in minutia.

As you may know, last week, Trustee Donna Kurtz and Board of Trustees President Scott Summers each got up to speak at the City Council meeting, regarding the Trustees' plan for a new minor league ball field, health club and nursing program on the campus. They each came forward on their own accord, expressing their desire to see the City of Crystal Lake either vote "no" on the measure, or delay the vote to a future date, in order for the MCC Board to re-visit the project and discuss many issues which have come up under public scrutiny that, in the two Trustees' minds, had not been asked nor answered in their own meetings.

My feeling on last week's speeches by Kurtz and Summers? They were well spoken, but were only TWO voices of many in that audience.
I think the fact that they spoke had marginal consequence on the "Nay" votes by Council Members Ralph Dawson, Jeff Thorsen and Brett Hopkins (which has temporarily halted MCC's plans in CL). That said, I'm no mind-reader, and certainly do not want to minimize the importance of their testimony. It was certainly a "shocker" for some, not the least of which were Trustees Glosson, Walters, Lowe, Larson and Miller, but doesn't it beg the question: I wonder why Kurtz and Summers felt they needed to speak in City Council chambers; weren't they making any headway at all in their OWN governing body?

Apparently Not.

Mind you, many of the meetings at MCC regarding the baseball stadium had been private meetings, behind "closed doors."
This was best documented by Cal Skinner, on his blog, The McHenry County Blog. Repeatedly, the former State Rep.- turned- public- watchdog Skinner, would not only attend the meetings and report on the utter disregard for openness by the Trustees, but he would question the business viability and says he has filed at least one Freedom of Information Act to access what should be PUBLIC information; yet he says his requests went either unanswered, or were flat-out denied on several occasions. Read up more about this on the Blog. It's a fascinating story of a Board of Trustees without a rudder, and thinking themselves above reproach from the Public.

That was once again apparent tonight. If it hadn't been for the insistence of Scott Summers to stay in open session, then the entire discussion about board "unity" would have been behind closed doors once again! I applaud all the board members for finally ALLOWING the public to participate - or should I say "listen in" on that part of tonight's meeting. It was quite telling, though, in the end, the "expert" did very little to make any headway on what was quite obviously a bitter board battle, with downright ugly commentary made by one Trustee Walters - who crossed the line on one occasion, and was reminded not to use such language by the "mediator."

Kurtz: "It was a witch hunt."

The end of that "unifying session" could NOT have come soon enough. During the five minute break, I had to find out for myself if the business plan (not the building plan) was public, so I asked Doctor Packard, the President (paid staff) of MCC for a copy. He politely said that it is not public information. I suggested that perhaps that is why we have so many issues, and difficulties at the table. I should have waited for an answer to that suggestion, but asked, rather, whether he or the Trustees would be making that document public within the next 24-48 hours. "No." I asked why, and was given the answer I expected, that the information has trade secrets and it would divulge certain information that a potential competitor (competitor to the ball club, I assume) could benefit from.

At that time, upon re-convening, the session was back into closed session, to discuss what attorney Sandra Kerrick said, was necessary to discuss in closed session. This was on the agenda - a real estate transaction. Summers insisted on OPEN session, but was denied.

What was supposed to be discussed was the status of a real estate purchase for the parcel needed to complete the HWAC complex. It was rather obvious, looking through the glass, that the meeting certainly turned ugly again, and that far more than a real estate transaction was discussed. Again, we the People were shut out of the process.

In all fairness to the five Trustees who felt jilted by Kurtz and Summers, I can certainly understand their frustration. When I've sat on boards myself, one of the primary points we agree upon in order to make progress and keep it positive and productive is that when a majority votes in one direction, the dissenting voter(s) must support that decision, and move on. Otherwise, progress is difficult, if not impossible. Kurtz and Summers both broke that cardinal rule of boards. In most cases, I would say they deserve to be censured. I don't doubt that they even expected this, when at the City Council meeting.

However, in my humble opinion, it was quite evident that tonight's hostile nature of this Board did not allow for open and frank discussion. The very fact that the public ourselves has been shut out of the process - never given a copy of the business plan itself is in of itself a very telling and chilling message from a taxing body. A public body has no business going into business, nor keeping so-called "trade secrets" from the public. While the group of Trustees articulated its concerns to Kurtz and Summers clearly, they seemed to have little concern as to the reasons why the two spoke out of school in the first place. Even when the consultant, Mr. Newton said it was likely symptomatic of a flawed internal process, the board did not seem to take heed. That said, Mr. Newton, who was moderating, was plenty critical of both Kurtz and Summers' actions as well, reminding them that their actions resulted in a loss of trust between Trustees. This healing process will indeed be a long road to hoe.

Kurtz concluded to the board that a forty million dollar-plus endeavor, based upon what Kurtz calls a "high risk" business venture, in which, in her estimation, the board and public has been kept in the shadows, with regards to accurate and timely information, was worth going directly to the public with her concerns. She said that while she represents the students, the teachers, and the board, she first and foremost represents her constituents, and she said, they deserved to know.

So, at the end of the night, after yet another closed-door, public-uninvited session. I stayed late with four other weary-but concerned members of the public, to hear what was next. Sure enough, the final melt-down of the night transpired, in public session, in which Doctor Packard openly requested of the Trustees a call of support from the board to indicate that he, in fact was exhibiting good guidance and leadership for the Trustees. Scott Summers reminded that board that the Doctor was speaking of discussion made during private session, and it was inappropriate to discuss now.

Obviously, the private session had gotten personal. Chairperson Glosson suggested that comments to Doctor Packard may be made privately and directly, via phone or e-mail. Both Trustee Walters and Lowe made their support public. I did not hear other commentary on this subject.

At the end of the day, this board has a LOT of healing to do, if it is ever to make serious and substantive progress on its mission. Time may heal the wounds made at City Council, and perhaps they will even heal the wounds made tonight.

I suggest a better candidate to help the MCC Board to heal its wounds is to listen a bit more intently to the one Student Board Representative, Katie Claypool. In fact, the board would have been far better off tonight, following her out of the room when she had to leave early in order to go to class. Honestly, perhaps the board needs a couple more students to remind them of the mission - it ain't about getting a pound of flesh when one member speaks out of school, that's for sure. In fact, if all meetings were OPEN to begin with, no board member would ever have his or her heartrate explode, wondering whether a secret was kept. There should be very few secrets in public service, folks. It works better that way, believe me.

The Board Meeting is Thursday night at MCC to vote on several important issues. At this point, the issue of censure is one item. I would hope that this board can look at itself over the next 48 hours and consider that perhaps its Own actions - chiefly due to its ill-advised policy of NON-TRANSPARENCY caused this entire affair. There are sunshine laws for a reason. It is best that this board OPEN UP its business plan for public scrutiny. It is best that this board STOP hiding behind its closed- mouthed President, who quite obviously prefers business to be done in closed session as opposed to a place in which the TAXPAYERS - you remember, the ones who PAY his salary, and keep the lights on(?) get a say in how our dollars are either INVESTED, or WASTED on projects. This one walks like a piggy, talks like a piggy and smells like pork from a mile away. It's government-subsidizing a private business.

This little porker's got EVERYONE fighting mad, and that is why this project MUST be either delayed, to ensure it is economically feasible under the scrutiny of the public eye, or put on ice - indefinitely. What a shame that would be, after all the work involved, losing a vital nursing program that is indeed on-mission.

To Trustees Kurtz and Summers: If censure is the punishment
for free speech in order to ensure the PEOPLE know what is going on over there with their funds, then I vote that you be censured monthly, and twice on Sundays. No Trustee likes to be called on the carpet when he or she makes a potentially bad call, but this deal is far too important to CENSOR (yes, censor) THE TRUSTEES WE VOTED FOR, when they do not feel the taxpayers' best interests are being satisfied.

At the end of the day, they REPORT to US, not to other Trustees. And by the way, other Trustees, in case you didn't notice, so do you.

(If you would like to respond to this commentary, click on "Comments.")

Here is the printed Agenda:
(I have crossed off items not discussed, and added one item that was NOT on the agenda)

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes...
5. Open for Recognition of Visitors and Presentations
6. Green Technolongy, James Falco/Dean of Business & Technology
7. Bridger Report Information Technology & Telecommunications
8. Next Steps with Health, Wellness, Athletic Complex (HWAC) and Land Purchase, Board Report #07-207
9. Open for Board Members
10. Closed Session
11. Adjournment

ADDED ITEM: Board Development by Consultant, Wayne Newton, from Association fo Community College Trustees, Washington DC.

The top board room photograph was taken by John Coonen. The rest are mine, except for the head shot of Frances Glooson, which comes from the MCC web site.

Labels: Barbara Walters, Baseball Stadium, Carol Larson, Crystal Lake Network, Donna Kurtz, Frances Glosson, George Lowe, John Coonen, Mary Miller, MCC, McHenry County College, Scott Summers, Walt Packard