Cook County Forest Preserve District Meeting Dec 15 2010

This meeting was relatively uneventful with lots of time being taken by giving kudos and good-byes to the departing Superintendent Bylina and his Assistant Superintendent. There seems to be consensus that these two helped move the Forest Preserve district in the right direction of being responsive to the public interest and improving professionalism in the District.

President Preckwinkle ran a fairly efficient meeting, and started on time, which often did not happen under President Stroger.

The only noteworthy piece of business was when Commissioner Gorman moved emphatically to have an easement in Orland Park ok'd and then Commissioner Suffredin spoke during discussion to point out that a public hearing had never been held. In order to conform with the Land Management Policy adopted by the district, it is necessary to have a public hearing even if the Commissioners generally agree that the negotiation was a good one. It was a procedural question that has important precedent for how business will be conducted in this administration and President Preckwinkle supported the move to follow the Land Management Policy. When Commissioner Murphy offered to hold the hearing quickly but questions were raised about whether a quorum could be reached on the South Side in the near term (holiday season), the Board President stated that it is the job of Commissioners to attend these hearings and they need to show up. If all goes as planned, the Orland Park motion can come up again at the January meeting with no more questions.

After the meeting, President Preckwinkle hosted a press conference out in the hall and announced the appointment of the new CCFP Superintendent, Arnold Randall, and new Assistant Superintendent, Mary Laraia. They all took questions. Because Randall has a strong background in Park District administration, it was requested that President Preckwinkle speak to the fundamental differences between a Forest Preserve and a Park District. She cited her husband, a science teacher, in her response, saying that she and her administration understand that the Forest Preserve has part of its mission to be Conservation, as well as Recreation, and that she intends to honor both aspects of the mission. She and Randall intend to focus on improving public involvement and outreach in there future work.