COD buyout (Glen Ellyn, Hamilton, Mark: 2015, how much, attorney)

[pvande55]

Of course, Illinois is famous for corruption. But this deal beats most. Worse, despite a packed board meeting, all but one member voted for it.
Severing the rotten severance deal at College of DuPage

[chet everett]

Unfortunately this is not an example of anything other than the extreme reactionary / fake 'watch dogs' abusing the system.

The facts here show that Adam Andrzejewski, the goof that sold his downstate phone directory business and decided to run for governor, is using this as a PR stunt. Being backed by Rush Limbaugh in a state like Illinois is not a recipe for success and of course Adam Andrzejewski was creamed in his attempt to get the nomination for governor. The dilution of support helped Quinn defeat the weakened GOP, but that is ancient history.

Adam Andrzejewski falsely believes his band of lunatics can abuse the FOIA to dig up dirt and create some kind of "anti-corruption movement". Unfortunately the FACTS show that despite spending lots of money the operation of COD is not corrupt. The 70 year president of COD choose to invoke his right to severance and the COD board agreed to the termination of the contract with a large buyout. There were no doubt lots of people that live close to the campus there because they are angry with how much traffic the campus generates, how intensive the construction has been and even how brightly the campus is lit but those issues show no pattern of corruption.

The harassment instituted by Adam Andrzejewski and his lunatic band of "watch dogs" did uncover some emails from the COD president that showed he was scrambling to get a grant to expand the campus yet again. The fact is Quinn did not award that grant to COD and frankly given the relative wealth of Colloge of DuPage district there are no doubt other community colleges in Illinois that are more deserving of that kind of grant. The other 'issue' that was brought to light during the 'watch dogs' poking around was the possible over billing of the campus radio station by an broadcast engineer that has a background of less than honest dealings. It is silly to thing the President of the College would have any direct knowledge of such a thing.

The fact is COD serves tens of thousands students annually. A high percentage of students do go on to four year colleges and probably save quite a bit on tuition in the process. The campus has been expanded quite nicely over the years and cranks that live near by are silly to think that the school would not expand to serve the population growth of county.

DuPage Co has one of the most hard nosed prosecutors around, State's Attorney Bob Berlin and his office have a reputation of "throwing the book" at anyone that strays outside the law and given that their investigation of the material uncovered by the "watch dogs" did not result in any criminal charges against the COD that is strong evidence that Adam Andrzejewski and his lunatic band are just looking for headline grabbing stories as we enter campaign season.

Folks should not be fooled by the alleged "watch dog" designation, these folks are nothing more than Adam Andrzejewski lackeys in his "ground game" to position himself as the "tax fighting Rush Limbaugh endorsed ultra-right wing alternative to Mark Kirk". Given the lack of success that Adam Andrzejewski has had with this strategy in Illinois maybe Adam Andrzejewski should move to a more "red state" to fulfill his desires for higher office.

[Lookout Kid]

Tell us how you really feel Chet!

While it doesn't seem like anything illegal has gone on, I read the email regarding the grant and was disgusted. Additionally, even though Breuder is within the legal confines of the law with his severance package, I find it to be a ridiculous sum, and symptomatic of a system where public workers get sweetheart contracts with ridiculously generous terms. Screw him.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

While it doesn't seem like anything illegal has gone on, I read the email regarding the grant and was disgusted. Additionally, even though Breuder is within the legal confines of the law with his severance package, I find it to be a ridiculous sum, and symptomatic of a system where public workers get sweetheart contracts with ridiculously generous terms. Screw him.

The compensation of pretty much all college presidents in out of control -- it is crazy what has happened with the salaries of coaches and athletic directors.

The grant that the email concerned should frankly never have been offered to COD, or probably any other community college that has solid property tax support. There is a completely messed up set of legislators that still fail to acknowledge that "grants" made from the state to other entities only worsen the depth of the financial crisis Illinois has created.

The fake "watch dogs' have only WASTED more of the tax payer fund through the hundreds of thousands this severance will pay out and if they REALLY care about making Illinois more fiscally responsible they cannot behave like buffoons -- they need to efficiently uncover any real wrong doing and not engage in headline grabbing stunts.

[Lookout Kid]

I'm not impressed with those grandstanding watchdog clowns either. They are popular in Glen Ellyn right now, however. Breuder really rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in this community, and picked fights with the Village Board and surrounding subdivisions over construction issues, claiming that COD was not subject to village oversight. He was quite arrogant and spent huge sums of money like it grew on trees. His contract had ridiculous terms like satellite phones and gun club memberships. I think these sentiments led to the crowds that showed up, and will ultimately lead to most of the board getting ousted by voters--particularly Erin Birt. Hopefully the next COD President will tread more carefully.

[pvande55]

Update: it has gotten the attention of the State legislature, which wants an audit. The problem is they want COD to pay for it.

[mr roboto]

Chet loves unnecessary "quote marks".

[pvande55]

The plot thickens.
Hamilton resigns from College of DuPage board