Bolingbrook's top cop named new Naperville Park District director
The Naperville Park District has hired Bolingbrook police Chief Ray McGury as its new executive director.
He takes the helm Sept. 15 under a one year, $135,000 contract the board approved in a 5-2 vote Thursday.
McGury "is a man of integrity, he is a leader, he understands the dynamics of our community and ... we really do believe he understands the needs of Naperville," board President Suzanne Hart said. "And he already has the respect right off the bat from Naperville and from the park district as well."
That understanding of the city comes from 21 years on Naperville's police force before becoming Bolingbrook's police chief in 2005. McGury, 48, also spent years volunteering in both communities and ran unsuccessfully for the Naperville park board in 1997.
He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from St. Xavier University in Chicago and a master's of public administration from Northern Illinois University.
McGury said he hopes to restore the public's trust in the park district as well as unity within the organization.
"I'm going to be at the top but certainly I'll rely on the leadership team to challenge me on certain things and say 'that may have worked in law enforcement but here it doesn't work that way.' And I want that," he said. "I don't want 'yes' men and women ... and I'm going to challenge them (too)."
Vice President Marie Todd and Commissioner Mary Wright cast the dissenting votes Thursday. Wright said she believes McGury is a good leader, but does not like that the contract was deliberated between attorneys and not the park board. Todd would not explain her "no" vote but said she will support the board's decision.
McGury replaces Daniel Betts, who resigned earlier this month after less than five months on the job citing "philosophical and operational differences" with the district in his severance agreement.
Betts was the eighth director including interims in the past 12 years. Park district attorney Steve Adams cited that track record as being behind the board's decision to start with a one-year deal for McGury. The new director's salary is also $10,000 less than Betts.
"I think the board felt that was appropriate under the circumstances given the history of its relationships with directors, and I think it's trying to make sure it's a good fit before it commits to a long-term relationship," Adams said of the contract length.
McGury, who was a finalist for the job last December, said he is committed to the district.
"I certainly hope this is the last director for a really long time because I plan on staying until they push me out the doors," he said.
He will continue to serve in Bolingbrook until Sept. 12 but plans to start immediately meeting with park district employees on his own time.
Adams said unlike Betts, McGury will not be required to move to Naperville because he lives on the border of the city and his children attend Naperville Unit District 203.
New: No need for director to move this time around