Merit Commission - May 9 - maybe

The McHenry County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission is scheduled to meet at its monthly Regular Meeting on Wednesday, May 9, at 10:30AM. An agenda (of sorts) has been posted on the County Meetings website.

Meetings are frequently canceled, and it will be of great interest to County taxpayers and politicians whether this meeting is held. Taxpayers continue to wonder why Sheriff Keith Nygren continues to pay Sgt. Greg Pyle his monthly due of $7,000. In January Pyle was charged and indicted on ten counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault on a Child (under 13).

Many think that Pyle should have been placed on unpaid administrative leave while the charges work their way through court. For what possible reason could the Sheriff still be paying Pyle.

An internal transfer of personnel has reportedly filled Pyle's position as the I.T. guy at the Sheriff's Department. According to sources, a jail sergeant has been moved to I.T. This, course, will require some shuffling of name plates on desks at the jail. Some wonder why the sheriff didn't just hire a civilian to handle non-sworn duties within the MCSD.

The monthly agenda for the Merit Commission is the poorest excuse for Public Notice that I see in any "public body." It is impossible to know in advance what type of business will be considered at a meeting from this agenda. But they get away with it, month after month. Well, at least in the months when they actually hold meetings.

So far in 2012, the Merit Commission has canceled its January 11, February 8 and April 11 meetings.

At the March 14 meeting I expected the Pyle pile of monthly money to come up under Executive Session. It didn't. Since the Public Comment period had preceded the Executive Session, there was no proper place during the meeting to express my disagreement; however, afterwards I certainly did. I asked the Committee to find out whether it can bring up and act on an employee's status, even if the sheriff doesn't. I was told that they would check with the Commission attorney.

Janelle Crowley, Chairperson (and former HR Director of the City of Woodstock and now HR Director at ECC), neglected to show up for the March meeting (and didn't inform the Commission that she would not attend). Will she trot over from Elgin for the May meeting (or take 1/2-day personal day)? Why should ECC pay her time to attend the Merit Commission meeting? Will she drive to Elgin that morning and then charge the Commission roundtrip mileage to come back to Woodstock for the meeting?

Commissioner Gloria Urch asked for her profile to be updated. In two months it hasn't been.

Two other Commissioners, Brian Goode and William Mack, don't even have profiles on the Merit Commission webpage (found on www.mchenrysheriff.org). Each has served on the Commission since August 20, 2002. Do you have to hit the ten-year mark before you qualify to have your profile published?