Fired planning director appears before arbitrator

Former McHenry County Director of Planning and Development Suzanne Ehardt made her case Tuesday against county officials who fired her earlier this year reportedly over an outburst at a panel of citizens.

More than three months after the county ended her 10-year tenure as its chief planner, Ehardt appeared before an independent arbitrator asking him to find that administrators wrongfully terminated her for cause.

Her appearance came in a trial-like proceeding in which an arbitrator, in this case Naperville-based attorney John Kelly, hears evidence and testimony from both sides about the reasoning and legality of the firing.

Kelly closed the proceedings to the public at the request of the McHenry County State's Attorney's office and over the objection of Ehardt attorney Mark Gummerson.

"Our position is we have nothing to hide and if the public wants to view it, they should be able to view it," Gummerson said.

A decision from Kelly was not expected immediately.

Although the proceedings are unlikely to change the county's position on Ehardt - officials are in the final stages of choosing her successor - the decision could affect any severance she receives or a potential lawsuit.

County officials fired Ehardt in June and declined to comment publicly on their reasoning.

However, the decision came shortly after numerous people, including members of the county's Regional Planning Commission, complained of her behavior at a May meeting of the panel.

One witness claimed Ehardt launched a "premeditated attack" on those with whom she disagreed.

Others, including some on the county board, expressed unhappiness with the way Ehardt implemented the county's Land First measures designed to create more conservation-friendly subdivisions.