Cook Co. to pay out $3.2 million for patronage hiring practices

The Cook County Board will consider today a recommendation from hiring monitor Julia Nowicki to pay out $3.2 million to 100 victims of patronage hiring or promotion forbidden by the Shakman decree.

Nowicki will appear before the board to present the results of her investigation and recommendations. Nowicki was appointed by a federal judge to investigate corrupt hiring practices at the county and to oversee hiring practices after federal agents raided the county human resources department as part of an investigation.

She is the counterpart to the city's hiring monitor, Noelle Brennan, who was in charge of deciding who got $12 million in city payouts.

Aldermen grumbled about some of Brennan's choices, but ultimately approved her selections.