Nine apply for Naperville park board vacancy

Nine people have applied for the vacant seat on the Naperville park board.

The new commissioner will serve until next spring, replacing Charlie Brown, who resigned last month.

When the park board meets Thursday, it will have a closed session discussion about the resumes it has received and choose the top candidates to interview.

"We had a few that were absolutely wonderful," President Suzanne Hart said. "There's some really high-end candidates coming through. It's going to be difficult."

The board will interview finalists at its Aug. 14 meeting and could select a new commissioner that night.

Also during Thursday's closed session, the board will discuss Executive Director Daniel Betts, who abruptly took a leave of absence last week after less than four months with the district.

The board has been tight-lipped about the situation and may still not release any information publicly Thursday.

"Do I think I can come out Thursday and be able to release a statement? I'm not sure," Hart said. "I'm thinking not. It's a process."

Betts, former deputy director of recreation in Denver, is the Naperville Park District's eighth director in 12 years.

The park board meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at its administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave.