Des Plaines aldermen critical of Mayor Matt Bogusz's appointments
A battle is looming between some Des Plaines aldermen and Mayor Matt Bogusz over appointments to city advisory panels.
Rather, it's the appointments Bogusz isn't making that has led to criticism of the first-term mayor by council members who often clash with him.
At Monday's council meeting, Fifth Ward Alderman Jim Brookman publicly questioned why Bogusz isn't reappointing Mike Lake, who has been on the consumer protection commission since 1999, and Bob Porada, a member of the zoning board of appeals since 2007.
Brookman said Lake has been chairman of the commission for eight years, and was chosen by fellow commissioners for that role. Porada, an attorney, has a near-perfect attendance record on the zoning board and provides an "alternate" point of view on issues, Brookman said.
Without going into specifics, Bogusz said they weren't reappointed because of concerns over either their productivity or professionalism on the boards. He invited aldermen who questioned his appointments to have an "offline" conversation with him in which he'd go into more detail, but didn't want to do so in public out of respect for the individuals, since they are volunteers.
Lake and Porada were in the audience at the council meeting.
"In each instance where the individual in question was not reappointed, it was not because of me sleuthing out anything," Bogusz said. "Either peers, staff or both raised concerns that I then looked further into."
Individuals he is appointing are "better suited to move the city in the direction that as mayor I would like it to be moved," he added.
Fourth Ward Alderman Dick Sayad said Lake and Porada previously have made statements not favorable to the mayor.
Lake told the Daily Herald last week that he believes he isn't being reappointed because he criticized Bogusz for lowering flags to half-staff following the death of Alderman Joanna Sojka in August.
Porada said he believes he wasn't chosen as retribution for running in the upcoming election against 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith, who Bogusz appointed after Sojka's death. Porada also thinks it's because of his criticism of Bogusz's choice for city administrative hearing officer - a position Porada had sought.
Others not being reappointed include library board members Dion Kendrick and Gene Fregetto, who have been critical of library spending policies.
Aldermen are expected to vote Dec. 15 on a total of 18 appointments to city panels.