Transit board seats give elected officials a second public paycheck - DailyHerald.com

Nearly two dozen current and former suburban officials already collecting pay or pensions are among those costing taxpayers more than $1 million a year in salaries or health-care benefits for serving on transit boards.

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, who makes $31,426 a year as a tollway director on top of his $111,840 salary as his city's top administrator….Weisner and Naperville Mayor George Pradel receive annual paychecks from the tollway in addition to their mayoral salaries. Weisner's $111,840 elected position is a full-time management post. Pradel makes $28,533 a year as mayor, a job sought by challengers Doug Krause and Kenn Miller in the April election. ….
agencies already reimburse board members for costs associated with traveling to board meetings, if it is requested

Woodstock Democratic state Rep. Jack Franks has drafted two bills to strip pay and benefits from these transit agency boards as well as from the Chicago Transit Authority board of directors.

Transit board seats give elected officials a second public paycheck - DailyHerald.com

New light shed on Pagano’s financial situation

 

Metra's longtime chief Phil Pagano was supporting two other households in addition to his own, which may shed light on the financial scandal he was involved with before he took his own life, according to a newspaper report.

Click on the following for more details:  Northwest Herald | New light shed on Pagano’s financial situation

Here are some other postings regarding the financial scandal and suicide: 

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/04/metra-probes-puts-head-phil-pagano-on.html

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/05/metra-ceo-phil-pagano-commits-suicide.html

http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/06/metra-watchdog-33-allegations-are-being.html

Ill. state money to help fund railcar plant in Rochelle

Chicago's Metra commuter rail service awarded Nippon Sharyo a contract to build its next generation of railcars. Metra will buy 160 over the next five years.

Nippon Sharyo U.S.A. will receive $12 million in the form of a state business investment package to supplement $35 million in private investment

Click on the following for more details:  Pantagraph.com | News from Associated Press

The following are excerpts from Nippon Sharyo’s news releases.  See:  http://www.nipponsharyousa.com

cars for this [Metra] contract will be similar to the 26 gallery-type electric multiple units (EMUs) that were delivered in 2005 and 2006. The cars will accommodate up to 140 passengers each, and will replace existing cars that have been in service at Metra since the 1970s. Half of the new cars will be equipped with bathrooms.

The contract price is $560 million. Delivery is scheduled to start at the end of 2012, and finish by the middle of 2015.

The new strategy is focusing on two elements, one to increase competiveness in the expanding passenger railcar market in the United States, and the other to respond to the increased desires for “localization” of railcar assembly.

The new production facility is also expected to reduce total production costs by reducing transportation costs and by mitigating the risks of exchange rate fluctuations. Having a new production facility in the US also offers greater flexibility for production planning and delivery schedules while increasing the “local content” for Illinois and providing job opportunities in the Region.

The new facility will also enhance Nippon Sharyo’s consistent “on-time, on-budget” contract performance accomplishment on every United States contract over the past 30 years.

Nippon Sharyo has delivered an aggregate of 886 passenger railcars to the US market since early 80’s, and has complied with “Buy America” and local content requirements without exception by utilizing US suppliers and conducting final assembly in the US.

Nippon Sharyo decided to enhance its presence in the United States by building its own new production facility in Rochelle, Illinois. This is in response to the Obama Administration's initiative in support of passenger rail investments to create more jobs in the United States.

Ex-Pagano aide is Metra's other million-dollar man :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES r

Many Metra employees are very well paid.

The Sun-Times/BGA examination also found that:

••Despite the down economy, 151 unionized and nonunion Metra employees each made more than $100,000 in 2009 not including retirement contributions and health-benefit costs. Factoring those in, 524 employees -- 18.4 percent of the rail agency's 2,848-member work force –make more than $100,000

••Metra paid nearly $20 million for overtime last year -- amounting to about 11 percent of its nearly $180 million payroll.

••Eleven percent of its employees -- a total of 310 -- made more than $20,000 apiece in overtime pay in 2009. Nearly a quarter of Metra workers -- 685 -- were each paid more than $10,000 for overtime

 

Click on the following for more details:  Ex-Pagano aide is Metra's other million-dollar man :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: The Watchdogs#Comments_Container#Comments_Container#Comments_Container

Metra watchdog: 33 allegations are being investigated - chicagotribune.com

Metra probe possible fraud and mismanagement after disclosure that [Executive Director] Pagano improperly took $475,000 in vacation pay

Metra's newly hired internal watchdog is investigating 33 allegations of possible fraud or misconduct at the agency that tipsters have provided over the past two weeks, officials said Friday

The other 22 allegations were received via e-mail and a phone tip hot line set up on May 26.

The tips involve alleged fraud, waste, mismanagement, malfeasance and other abuses

 

Metra officials also said they are taking further steps to tighten oversight by hiring Chicago accounting firm Blackman Kallick  to assess the agency's internal controls and management.

Metra watchdog: 33 allegations are being investigated - chicagotribune.com

Metra CEO Phil Pagano Commits Suicide | NBC Chicago

 

Embattled Metra CEO Phil Pagano committed suicide Friday morning, just hours before the agency's board was to meet to discuss his future.

Pagano stood on the tracks in unincorporated Crystal Lake for about five to 10 seconds before the train hit him at around 8 a.m., the train's conductor said, adding that he made eye contact with Pagano before the impact.  There were 24 passengers aboard the train.

"The engineer made a statement to us that he simply saw a person standing in between the rails of the track, looking at the train," said McHenry County Sheriff  Keith Nygren.

Nygren said Pagano left a note indicating his intentions, and reports said investigators found his wallet and a copy of Metra's guidlines on how to handle a stoppage due to a suicide.  

Board members were visibly shaken by the news.

"This is a sad day for Metra," said Jack Partelow, a Metra board member, when asked about reports.

Pagano was placed on administrative leave last week after it was discovered he took an unauthorized $56,000 bonus. The Cook County States Attorney's office said it had launched a criminal probe as well.

Pagano, who has run the agency for 20 years, is paid $269,625 to run the commuter rail service. But sources say he gave himself an extra $56,000 last year. Metra employees don't get bonuses, spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.

The Metra board hired a lawyer to investigate the alleged misappropriation. Senator Dick Durbin called for a federal investigation into the bonus. 

Click on the following for more details:  Metra CEO Phil Pagano Commits Suicide | NBC Chicago

Metra probes, puts head Phil Pagano on leave | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business

Boone/Winnebago County officials want Metra trains.  Everyone should take a look with what comes with the train.

Executive Director Phil Pagano may have gotten an unauthorized $56,000 bonus late last summer….   Mr. Pagano, who is paid $269,625 a year in regular salary, has held Metra's highest staff job for two decades

  "Metra does not pay bonuses. Metra pays (only) annual salaries. We are looking into the matter you asked about," she said. "We are thoroughly investigating the matter."

Mr. Pagano "is currently not conducting any Metra business." That is "at the request" of Metra board Chairwoman Carole Doris, the spokeswoman said.

Metra was hit with a huge scandal four years ago, when former director Don Udstuen pleaded guilty to shaking down Metra contractors for kickbacks. He received an 8-month prison term after cooperating in the government's prosecution of former Gov. George Ryan.

Click on the following for more details:  Metra probes, puts head Phil Pagano on leave | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business