Politics & Government

Kane Chairwoman Wants Applicants for County Metra Board Spot

The current county representative to the Metra board has declined to resign.

The Kane County Board is taking applications for a replacement of the current Kane County appointment to the Metra Board, even though the position is still filled. 

Earlier this month, county board Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay asked for the resignation of the current county representative, Carol Van Overmeiren, and has called for the entire 11-person board of directors for the Chicago region's commuter rail system to resign.

Van Overmeiren reportedly has declined to resign and there isn't a statutory ability for her to be removed, according to a county board media release from May 27.

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Also in the release, McConnaughay states that a special county board task force will vet potential replacements and make a recommendation that would be presented to the board in July.

Applications will be accepted through June 13. The task force, which is chaired by McConnaughay, is scheduled to start vetting June 16, after which, the recommendation will be made to the board on July 12.  

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In a May 16 letter, McConnaughay cited the problems facing the Metra board in the wake of deceased Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano’s embezzlement scandal as cause for the entire board to resign. She then announced the creation of the Kane County task force.

Applicants are required to be at least 21 years old and live within the county.

According to the press release, "there appears to be no formal job description or set of specific qualifications or experience required for appointment to the Metra Board." However, the task force has indicated that it will look for  "experience that is relative or applicable to a public transit board, an availability to serve, and a convincing demonstration of why candidates consider themselves qualified."

Potential appointees also will be asked if a change to the set compensation, pension or benefits would deter their interest in the Metra board position. According to the press release, Metra board job pays $25,000 a year.

"One of the challenges here is to identify a job description," said McConnaughay.

The county task force include county board members Mike Donahue of Geneva, Drew Frasz of Elburn, Cathy Hurlbut of Elgin and Jesse Vazquez of Aurora.

The press release continues:

Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, FAX or sent electronically to:

Kane County Government Center

719 Batavia Avenue, Building A

County Board Office, 3rd Floor

Geneva, Illinois 60134

Office: (630)232-5930

Fax: (630)232-9188

Email: kmcconnaughay@kanecoboard.org

Copies of all the applications will be distributed to Task Force members for their review and ranking. A review of the rankings and details of the interview process, including decisions on which candidates will be invited to interview, is scheduled for the June 16 meeting. The task force will make public a list of all applicants as well as finalists.


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