Betts resigns as Naperville parks director

Daniel Betts' brief tenure as executive director of Naperville Park District is over.

Betts, who was hired in late February and began work in March, voluntarily resigned Thursday, effective immediately, district officials said.

According to a joint statement released Thursday night, Betts said he was stepping down because of "philosophical and operational differences" regarding the district's management.

He did not attend the park board meeting.

The separation agreement, approved by the district late Thursday, calls for Betts to receive a total of $86,088.27, paid by check, within 14 days.

Only Commissioner Andrew Schaffner voted against accepting Betts' resignation.

"It's over," park board President Suzanne Hart said after signing the agreement.

Betts will not be required to reimburse the district up to $10,000 to pay for finding his replacement, as his original contract stated he would if he left before the end of the three-year pact.

"He is not going to be reimbursing for the search firm," park district attorney Greg James said. "We do expect that we're going to be able to build on that same process we had. It's not like we have to start all over because we did do a search (to hire Betts) and found numerous qualified candidates, so they can still avail themselves to the process."

Betts joined the district on March 24, after previously serving as the deputy director of recreation in Denver. On July 14, he went on paid administrative leave in a move Hart said was unexpected. No explanation was given for the leave during the past month.

Park officials did not offer any further explanation Thursday.

"The agreement recognizes that Daniel is going to pursue other opportunities and the board is going to go in another direction," parks spokeswoman Sameera Luthman said.

District officials did, however, go out of their way to say Betts' resignation was not tied to a recent examination of his district-owned computer.

"It is standard operating procedure for this district to examine what is on the computers that belong to the district," James said. "There was certainly nothing unlawful that was shown by any examination of any computer that Mr. Betts touched."

There is no timetable in place to seek a replacement. Mindy Munn will serve as acting executive director. Munn also served as acting director during the previous executive search following the resignation of former director Barbara Heller.