Quinn Signs Bill to Expand Plainfield Park Board

Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday signed a measure that will add two appointed members to the Plainfield Park District Board of Commissioners.

State Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego), Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) and State Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet) sponsored the bill after months of turmoil plaguing the board. When he announced the legislation, Cross said the measure was an “attempt to bring back sanity” to the park board after controversial decisions by a then-board majority of Peter Hurtado, Peter Steinys and Janet Silosky, as well as ethics violations accusations concerning the board.

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“Given the seriousness of these allegations of misconduct, it is evident that our community needs this change,” Bertino-Tarrant said in a statement Friday afternoon. “This law will restore public trust to the Plainfield Park Board.”

Under the law, two new board members will be appointed — one by Cross and one by Bertino-Tarrant. The new members will serve two-year terms before the seats would be up for election.

“As someone who represents the Plainfield community, it was important for me to address these widespread public concerns,” Bertino-Tarrant said.

“I’m very excited — the two new commissioners I’m hoping will be ready to be sworn in at the Sept. 10 meeting, and I welcome them,” board president Mary Kay Ludemann said Friday. “They will help our board be a better representation for the community.”

Ludemann said she hopes Cross and Bertino-Tarrant will include input from the board and the community in choosing the new members.

“It’s such an exciting time for the park district with two new commissioners and a new executive director,” she added.

On Friday, Cross said it’s yet to be determined how the selection process will take shape.

“The main thing we wanted to do was just get the bill signed,” he said. Now that it has been, Cross said the process could begin in the next couple of weeks.

Cross said he’s received letters of interest from several park district residents who offered themselves up for the position.

“I’m certainly open to anybody who’s interested,” he said. “We just want somebody that’s honest and that’s going to do the right thing.”

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