October 18, 2012
Dennis J. Meyers, Director
Department of Court Services
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit
Winnebago-Boone Counties
403 Elm Street
Rockford, IL 61101
Dear Dennis:
The unilateral position on Boone County Probation Department wages the Chief Judge and you have dictated creates a problem for the evaluation process the Boone County Board was attempting to conduct. Generally speaking, the county was trying to keep wage increases in the 2-1/2 % range--considering fairness to all departments in the county. The arbitration award for the Boone County Corrections unit amounted to a 1.5% increase for FY 2013.
The fiscal restraint and fiscally prudent manner in practicing sound business management falls on deaf ears in Boone County because your decision was made without consideration of the unilateral impact on the County Board Finance Committee's goal to create a sensitive and fair wage package.
It was not a team decision, and apparently was made without thought to the impact it would have on the whole of Boone County.
I disagree with your process, and your decision.
Sincerely yours,
- Patrick B. Mattison
- Boone County Board Member District 3
- 7982 Distillery Road
- Belvidere, IL 61008
cc: Hon. Joseph G. McGraw, Chief Judge 17th Judicial Court
Harold V. Hawkinson - Deputy Director, Boone County
