001Call tonight's meeting to order. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. >> Roll call. Mrs. Bibla >> here. >> Mr. Champy >> here. >> Mrs. Chaittori, >> Mr. Webbby, >> Mrs. McCertie >> here, >> Mrs. Campbell >> here, >> Mr. Nardone >> here, >> Mr. Boon >> here, >> and Mr. McCri >> here. >> Eight members present. >> An executive session was held on September 23rd regarding personnel and pending litigation. We'll start out uh public comment. Public guests are reminded testimony limited three minutes. Please state your name and your township. If and if you're speaking for an organization, please identify that organization. Do we have any public comment for tonight's agenda items? My name is Joe Plavia. I live in Wright Township and I have a couple things here on the agenda. um recommend consideration
002and approval to appoint Frank Tunis Esquire as special counsel. I'd like to know what that's for. >> Thank you for coming and for your question. Um we're unable to provide any specifics on that because it is involving both prospective uh litigation or threatened litigation as well as a issue. So, we're not able to provide any specifics on that. >> Okay. Is there a contract? >> I can't hear you. I'm sorry. >> Is there a contract? >> A contract with Mr. Tunis? Yes. >> With Attorney Tunis? Not to date. >> Okay. So, what is the cost? >> I don't have that information for you at this time because we don't have um an agreement with him. When will there be an agreement? >> It hasn't even been appointed yet. >> And this is going to get
003voted on with no contract. >> This is going to get voted on. There was an executive session where they discussed the appointment. Again, no specifics of that discussion can be provided due to the nature of the appointment. And when will the public get to review this contract? >> When will the public >> get to review the contract? >> If it is entered into when as long as there's no information that would be contrary to release, that would be provided. >> Okay. I'm names and stuff like that can be redacted, but it can still be reviewed as for cost. >> I understand. And if the contract is approved, if the motion goes forward, >> okay, >> that can be released. >> Okay. Item number two, >> I don't need to read it. Mr. John P. Webby's
004resignation. When was the board aware that Mr. Webbby was going to resign? Yeah, we we we could we could take no formal action until we accepted his uh resignation and he dated in his letter. I believe it was the last board meeting, September 18th was the official date. So, we could not accept or take any action until that was approved. Since the board has addressed rumors in the past, there is a rumor that Mr. Webbby knew he was going to resign several weeks ago before the September 4th cutoff to have it the open seat put into the election. So, what was why was there a delay and why isn't Mr. Mr. Webby here to answer. >> In our discussion with him, the best I can recall is he was hoping to make the September meetings.
005Uh but his time schedule was changing. Was not sure at the time uh when he would not would no longer be available. So he dated it as uh September 18th as a date after which he would no longer be available. >> Right. We received an email on September 12th stating that he would be resigning on September 18th. So >> even though he knew he was going to resign in possibly late July or early August. >> I mean if he was thinking about it, I mean that's something I'm sure he pondered. I mean but we still can't >> has nothing to do with >> the the board still couldn't take action till he put it in writing. I mean, we've gone through this before, you know, unfortunately with people resigning and they could bring it up,
006but until they give us a letter with a date of resignation, that's what makes it official and that's what we vote on. >> And he did make the August meeting and was hoping to make September. However, that did not work out >> conveniently for September 4th. Moving on. Mr. Machri, do you intend to pursue the vacated seat? >> No, just asking. Um, I see Mr. Sleser isn't here and he wasn't here at the last meeting either. >> Attorney Sleser was present at the September 18th meeting and I'm with his office so I'm here tonight. >> I didn't see him. Okay. Um my next question is why did the board deviate from previous practice of uh letters of interest for an open seat going to the solicitor? My the best reason I personally can give you
007I'm not speaking for the whole board here. Uh the last few times we had openings our solicitor was in house uh was here every day. We we get letters of interest via email uh mailed in or personally dropped off and without the solicitor being inhouse every day if somebody dropped them off. Okay, it might take a while uh for that notification to take place. So not having the uh solicitor inhouse versus having the solicitor in house uh was the reason I I felt very comfortable with what we're doing. I guess I have nothing after that. Um Oh, I do have one more point. The last time there was a a board vacancy, uh a local paper obtained and published a list of applicants through a right to know request. Will will the board be doing
008that again? We could have the names released. >> Okay. Uh, are we going to have to wait 35 days to the next meeting or can the names be read tonight? >> We can have a press release out tomorrow or the next day, whenever. solicitors have it prepared >> and it is closed >> as of 400 p.m. today. >> Excellent. Okay. So, uh we can see that in the next 48 hours. Then >> I'm not making any promises. I'm just saying the solicitors will prepare a press release and submit it. >> Okay. Thank you for your time. David Green, Dorance Township. I just have uh a question on item two. I recall at the last meeting the last thing that the board did was vote to accept the resignation of Mr. Webbby. So why is it
009back on the agenda? Thank you for your question. Uh we did have this on the last agenda and there was a community member who pointed out that there wasn't an adequate opportunity for public comment on that specific issue. So we took that into consideration and added it again to ratify that allow public comment on the issue so that the public can be heard if they have anything to say and then to take action on it again. >> So the last vote is basically null and void is what you're saying. >> Well, nothing has changed with the vote until tonight. They take a new vote to potentially ratify that action. So if anything changes after public comment, they would take a new vote. >> Makes sense. because you already have one >> uh vote that was
010on and it's on record and now you're saying if there's some comment, you might have another one. >> I apologize. There'll be a vote either way to ratify that action. However, we're allowing the public the opportunity that it was pointed out they missed at the last meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. push where it says push. Hi Nancy Romanian, uh Rice Township, excuse me. Um I have uh serious concerns about the agenda item about the special counsel. Um again, this is a very vague item. I I believe this is a violation of the Sunshine Act and I will file on this because you can't whether you have a contract or not. This is something the public should know about even if it's a personnel item. I spoke to several attorneys and other board members from other
011areas and they said that agenda items still need to have some type of information on them to provide us with information to understand before voting on an item. So, if you're telling me you don't have a contract, how do you vote on something you don't have a contract on? and I'd like to be able to to preview anything 24 hours in advance to see what the district is doing as a right as a public uh person. So, um I mean I looked up the Sunshine Act violations. There are limited exceptions for emergency business which is a clear and present danger to the property or life. And then the other one is a matter of insignificant nature that arises and it's but does not involve expenditure or funds. So I believe since you're hiring somebody this
012does involve expenditure or funds. So, I'd propose and respectfully request you table this until the work session and you can give us a redacted contract if it is a personal issue or whatever the issue is. So then we as a public can have some time to review it and understand what the district is doing because again this is a public entity that you've been elected to represent us. But we still have the right to see the information. No comments because I will then I'm officially notifying and it's I guess I would like to enter in an objection to the record regarding this item on grounds that's a violation of Sunshine Act and then I will in the meantime file my paperwork if there's no comment from the board. Again, I just request that we have
013the information that's fair to us as a public to review in 24 hours notice and not just say we don't know, we don't have a contract. I mean, that's not business. I mean, I don't go into business that way and this is a public entity that we should be fiscally responsible and transparent. So, I'm just requesting maybe we table this to the next work session, provide the information that we can review as a public, and then obviously move forward for the with the issue at hand. >> So, in your opinion, do you feel this is a violation of the Sunshine Act? Based upon my review and the fact that these are both under two exceptions, personnel and pending or proposed litigation or threatened litigation, we cannot provide any additional information. And I have no um
014nothing further to say to the comment. >> Okay. So, the attorney I spoke to said that yes, you can provide a redacted contract even if it's a personnel issue with the names scratched out. Um so, and like I said, the only exceptions on the Sunshine Law that I looked up the law are those two. So, if you proceed with this, just so the board knows, I will file this and it's if you vote yes, then your name is on the on the form. So, thank you. I'm sorry. I just would respectfully request you table this to give us the public the information we're asking. That's all. And again, it would be how much is this costing per hour? Is there a cap on how much we're paying the district? Because why are we hiring a
015special counsel? Why aren't we using in-house counsel? I mean, there's a lot of questions I have that you're telling me cannot be answered, but they're basic questions that should be allowed to be answered to the public with public funds. It's a responsibility of the board. >> I I mean, this is a very serious matter that we're dealing with and there's information that no, we cannot put put forward to the public. I have no problem with the finances being released, but but I I don't see any part of this that could be released to the public personally. So, and I think the sooner we get this started, the better for the school district, but I am more than fine with finances being released. I >> I don't know how the rest of the board feels about
016that. So, there should be a contract with the lawyer that you guys could have released with it. Not again, if it's just how much you're paying for the expenditures, is there hourly rate, what's the cap on it? Because, you know, an hourly rate could be 150 an hour, could be $300 an hour, which is a disservice to the district. I just want to understand that. I think that's a fair question. Why isn't our in-house counsel not you doing this? Why are we using special I mean I I think there's basic questions that are fair to ask as a public citizen. >> Cannot be discussed. >> Well, those basic questions can be. So, we'll let the judge decide then if you vote that. Okay. Thank you. Seeing no more comment, we'll move on. Item number one,
017I move and seek a second for consideration and approval to appoint Frank Tunisquire as special counsel. >> Second. >> Roll call. Mrs. Bibla, >> yes. >> Mr. Champy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Tytor Zagoric, >> yes. >> Mrs. McCertie, >> yes. >> Mrs. Campbell, >> yes. >> Mr. Nordome, >> yes. >> Mr. Boon, >> yes. >> Mr. Macker, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> I so move and seek a second. On item number two, uh, consideration and approval to accept the resignation of John P. Webbby as Crestwood School District Board of Education member effective September 18th, 2025. >> Second. Roll call. >> Mrs. Bibla? >> Yes. >> Mr. Champy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Churro Zaguric? >> Yes. >> Mrs. McCertie? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Campbell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nardone? >> Yes. >> Mr. Boon? >>
018Yes. >> And Mr. Murray? Yes. >> Motion carried. >> That concludes this special meeting. Our next scheduled regular meeting is on Thursday, October 16th, 6:30 p.m. here at the secondary campus. >> John, I have a question. >> I can't make that meeting. Is there any way we can move it a day earlier? I'd like to be there, but my schedule prohibits me from being there. Is there any way we can move it a day or two earlier so that I can attend? >> I'm fine with moving it as long as we have a consensus and majority of board, we can notify and move that. >> I would like to be there. Um, my schedule prohibits. >> So, if we can move it to Tuesday or Wednesday, >> are you talking board or >> the the
019voting board? The October 18th meeting. Yeah. >> 16th. So, you're looking for the 14th or 15th. >> 14th or 15th. They can make it 16th. I'm >> gonzo. >> Yeah. I I could try I can't let you know today. I could try to move my night. >> We'll get >> No, we'll get >> we'll get the board together and see and then we'll make sure there's public if it's changed, we'll give public ample notice of the change. >> And if you can't, you can't. But I'd like to be at that meeting. Sounds good. Okay. >> I so move uh to adjourn this meeting. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I. Meeting adjourned.