Email questions propriety of Boone County appointments

The following email from Pat Mattison questions actions of Mr. Anderson and Mr. Walberg.  It is reproduced below with the permission of Mr. Mattison.

 

1/13/11

To:  Robert Walberg, Boone County Board Chairman

Re:  Resignation & Appointment Process for County Board, District 1

From:  Pat Mattison, Boone County Board Member, District 3

Bob, I am disappointed in the actions and process surrounding the County Board District 1 events from before the December 6, Organizational meeting to the present.  Transparency and openness are lacking.

Apparently County Board Member Danny Anderson knew he had a "conflict of interest" (having been hired by the City of Belvidere and informed by the Mayor of such) before the organizational meeting December 6, and never informed many of the board. members. Still, he took part in electing the County Board Chairman, and then resigned from the Board citing the "conflict of interest."  According to you, Anderson told you he would like to choose his replacement, Brad Fidder.  At the regular Board meeting several citizens told me that you had already made your decision.  Then it was announced the position was open and notice to potential applicants would be published.  Terri Glass then queried whether the applicants would be made known to the County Board members to gain information from any or all applicants to better provide "advice and consent" to your choice.

The interview process was set up for interviews of 5 applicants.  For whatever reasons he may have, Administrative Chairman Anthony Dini invited County Board members to the brief interview session and set the ground rules that only he would ask generalized questions of all candidates...and, that there would be no questions from other Board members or the audience during the meeting, that they could talk to the applicants,  but not at the meeting in the presence of other Board members.

This begs many questions.

*  Were you told by Danny Anderson before the December 6, that he was resigning because of "conflicts of interest?"

*  Do you feel Danny Anderson's request to name his replacement (after no longer serving on the Board) should take precedence over the "advice and consent" of the County Board?

*  Why put interested applicants through a interview process if your decision to name Brad Fidder has already been made?

*  And why have an interview process where all applicants are present and no questions from other County Board members would be accepted--how does that facilitate openness, the gathering of useful information and insight on potential Board Members, and trust amongst the County Board and public?

Most of us know that Brad Fidder is the appointment.  This whole process is an obfuscation. 

Patrick B. Mattison

BOONE COUNTY BOARD DISTRICT