Naperville park board working to come together

In recent years, the Naperville Park District board has been plagued by infighting and an inability to close the deal on some of the projects it's pursued.

But commissioners now hope with the help of a consultant they have hired that they can improve their communication, resolve conflicts and plan for the future.

"We have an opportunity not to reflect on what didn't go well, but moving forward with what we can do collectively so 10 to 15 years from now this district is cutting-edge, this district is a leader in Illinois and in the country," new Executive Director Daniel Betts said to the board Thursday night.

Consultant Joseph McLennan of McLennan Partners in Lisle will be working with board members and had an hour-long discussion with them Thursday to find out their concerns and to present an overview of his strategy for making improvements.

"We're very used to doing things in a particular way," McLennan said. "But sometimes in order for us to get better we have to be intentional about thinking about doing it in a different way."

Some board members said they've been frustrated by the board's dynamic and a lack of open-mindedness.

"It's unfortunate that this board spends an enormous amount of time being spiteful to one another versus being productive with one another," President Kristen Jungles said. "Because ultimately the one that's getting hurt by all that are the residents we were elected to serve."

She said she would like to see the board plan strategically in order to "move the organization from being mediocre at best to being phenomenal for the community."

McLennan will be working with board members individually and as a group on leadership, trust, new member orientation, appreciating a diversity of ideas and feeling confident in their role as commissioners.

He said he will tailor the board development plan to their needs but made it clear board members must be open to the process.

Betts commended board members for sharing their insights Thursday and said no environment is perfect.

"Change is a process," he told them. "It truly is a process and it starts with you. Don't point the finger at someone else but start the change process with you."

The park board will pay McLennan by the hour but does not have an exact dollar figured budgeted for his services. The money will come out of a fund with $18,850 that is set aside for any type of board training or conferences commissioners attend.