No fun means angry words in Pingree Grove

Last year, Northern Kane Educational Corp. signed a contract with Pingree Grove to run the village's parks and recreation program.

Now, more than seven months later, Pingree Grove still has no recreational programs for its residents, village officials say.

Frustrated by the delay, Pingree Grove Trustee Greg Marston on Monday tried to terminate the village's contract with Northern Kane, which also runs the Cambridge Lakes Charter School in Pingree Grove.

"Northern Kane failed to live up to their portion of the agreement," Marston said. "We have an agreement with a vendor that has provided us with nothing."

Marston's motion to terminate the contract, set to expire in 2011, was defeated. Richard Stramaglia was the only other trustee to vote with Marston.

Stramaglia could not be reached for comment.

Northern Kane Executive Director Larry Fuhrer sent a letter to Pingree Grove offering to terminate the agreement if the village agrees to a number of conditions, such as allowing Northern Kane to use the village's fields, Mayor Wyman "Clint" Carey said.

The village board Monday delayed a vote on Northern Kane's proposed agreement until June 30 to give the sides time to resolve the field use issues, Carey said.

"If we terminate the contract, it opens up the village to possibly some liability," Carey said. "I believe it's a mutually acceptable way to move on with each other."

Marston said Fuhrer's offer is unreasonable and that the village needs to negotiate a better deal.

"It's a long, rambling letter," Marston said. "His agreement letter is obnoxious and unprofessional."

Neither Fuhrer nor Northern Kane board member Sylvia Polletta returned multiple calls seeking comment. Spokeswoman Heather Schaeffer declined comment.

If Pingree Grove severs ties with Northern Kane, the village plans to start its own parks and recreation program, Carey said.

"It's going to be slow," Carey said. "It's not going to be something we're going to be able to have as a priority right now."

Under the Nov. 19, 2007, contract with the village, Northern Kane was to pay for the recreation programs and split the profit with the village, with Northern Kane getting 75 percent and the village receiving 25 percent.

"The village hasn't written a check to them for anything," Carey said.

But he added the village might owe Northern Kane as much as $30,000 for sports equipment the firm bought.

Marston said he plans to try to terminate the contract again if the village and Northern Kane are unable to reach an agreement.

"I hope that we can come to an agreeable solution and if not, then I will be making a recommendation to terminate the contract," Marston said.