MCC board considers censuring two members

McHenry County College trustees Monday night tried to censure two board members who spoke publicly against MCC's expansion plans at last week's Crystal Lake City Council meeting.

Donna Kurtz, who heads the board's finance committee, and Scott Summers, the board president, had previously voted to approve MCC's plans to build a $26 million 95,000-square-foot Health Wellness and Athletic Complex. Part of the plan includes a 6,500-seat stadium that would be home to a minor league baseball team.

Months after the MCC board unanimously approved the project, Kurtz and Summers changed their tune.

A resolution said the two trustees ignored the democratic rule of the majority by criticizing the project after a board decision had been reached.

"We need a board that works together. … We need to give a unified front," said Trustee Carol Larson, who read the resolution.

The board did not vote on the censure resolutions and instead took a poll. Trustees Larson, Barbara Walters, Mary Miller and George Lowe Jr. supported censure. Kurtz, Summers and Frances Glosson did not.

Both Kurtz and Summers were asked to resign their leadership positions on the board. Kurtz's term will expire in 2013; Summers' in 2011.

Summers said he is "weighing my options at this point. I'm well aware that there are four of the seven voting trustees unhappy with me being chair."

Describing his public opposition to the board's vote as a "bold step," Summers said he expected some sort of tongue-lashing from the board. "I can't say I was totally surprised with what happened," he said.

MCC's board of trustees plans to vote Thursday on the censure resolution.