D122 Board Narrowly Approves Legal Bills, OKs Bond Sale

Board Member Debbie Kedzior lost her bid for re-election to the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education, but she's using her time left to make a point. She is more than unhappy that the district will be paying $8,941.10 as a result of what a Will County Court later ruled as an invalid challenge in January to the nominating petition for re-elected Member Kathy Miller.     

At the April 17 board meeting, Kedzior asked to separate bills payable as they relate to governance. She spotlighted legal bills associated with the Electoral Board hearing in regard to Miller's petition. She took umbrage for the $8,941.10 attorney's fees associated with the hearing. She also objected to over $2,000 worth of telephone-related advice from attorneys in regard to the same matter.  Broderick too highlighted those specific bills and requested that they be pulled for further description.

Broderick's motion failed, and the board approved the bills. Broderick and Smith voted "no," while the majority voted in favor of paying the bills. However, Kedzior challenged Broderick's vote, saying, "Maureen these were for you." Broderick countered saying, "I don't believe I have to explain it" further.

Later, Kedzior put the matter before Board President Nick DiSandro, "It's my belief the community does not want the board spending money on itself. How do we protect the district from the board?"  

Member Patrick Martino suggested that the new board put together a committee to address the spending and line items pertaining to legal expenditures.

Speaking about the vote after the meeting, Kedzior said, "Maureen and Sue voted against paying their own legal bills," which originated from their challenge to Miller's petition.

Broderick calls bond sale a "backdoor referendum."

With Broderick and Smith voting "no," the majority of the board voted to approve the sale of $5.6 million in working cash bonds, which is set up as a 20-year obligation, costing the district a total of $8.5 million. The sale was coupled with restructuring of $126 million in bonds sold in 2011.

The board postponed the planned March 20 sale due to a spike in interest rates. By delaying action until the interest rates dropped to 4.7 percent, the district saved more than $2 million, according to investment advisors from R.W. Baird.  

Broderick complained that she hadn't had time to adequately review the documents, which were received by board members at 5:40 p.m. on the day of the vote. "This is a huge business decision" that could "wait a couple weeks." In questioning the R.W. Baird representatives, Broderick said, "I take it the bonds were already sold." Not all of them, he said.

Supt. Michael Sass responded to Broderick, saying, "You make it seem dirty."

Martino interjected with a reference to Lincoln-Way District 210's recent bond restructure, calling it a similar matter. Turning to Martino, Broderick said, "You're going to back-in a referendum."

DiSandro commented that "we've beaten this horse to death."  

Readers might like:

• Interest Rate Spike Halts D122 Working Cash Bond Sale

• D122 Takes Up 2-Part Financial Plan; Bond Restructure and Working Cash Bonds

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