Says Spectrum layoffs were mishandled

I am one of the 17 former employees of Spectrum whose position was eliminated for alleged cost saving measures. Mary (Wroblewski) has repeatedly expressed the cuts were a business decision to save the township taxpayers money, yet she has been unable to tell them the amount these cuts are to save.

In addition, she has yet to explain why part time employees or board members are still being provided benefits. If cuts were needed, these benefits should have been the first to be eliminated.

The former employees understand that budget cuts occur. The problem lies with the lack of professionalism with how the cuts were conducted. For Mary to have not informed the members on the Committee for Youth and to have only provided two weeks’ notice sent a clear message that she did not value our services. We were given a week’s extension only after we repeatedly expressed concern for our clients’ welfare.

Mary expressed in several editorials and interviews “how her hearts went out to the former staff.” That may be true, however if her heart did go out to the former staff, she would have handled the cuts in a professional manner, maybe starting with informing human resources.

This was not a business decision but a decision based on personal ones. She had the budget balanced with our salaries in it.

I do not have any regrets having worked for the township. I enjoyed the opportunity to have worked in community mental health and to have worked with my former colleagues. Although she closed the door by having laid us off, some of us are beginning to open new ones.

Angela Lacalamita

Palatine