County Board reverses course on review committee regarding county adminstrator

One week after it voted in favor of forming an advisory committee to review comments made by and the conduct of the county administrator, the Board of Cook County Commissioners voted Tuesday, Nov. 29, to rescind on forming the committee before it ever met.

On Nov. 22 the board voted 3-2 in favor of forming a special committee to determine if comments made during a public meeting by County Administrator Jeff Cadwell should result in disciplinary action. The review committee was to consist of Cook County Human Resources Director Judy Hill, County Attorney Molly Hicken and Commissioners Garry Gamble and Ginny Storlie. The three votes in favor of forming the committee came from Gamble, Storlie and Commissioner Frank Moe.

During the Nov. 29 meeting, Commissioner Storlie changed her stance and voted to rescind, which essentially means to cancel, forming the committee.

Commissioner Storlie did not state specifically why she voted to rescind the committee, though last week she did say publicly that Cadwell’s comments about county staff needed to be addressed.

During the public comment period of Tuesday’s meeting, seven local residents spoke to the county board in favor of the work Cadwell is doing in his role as county administrator. Among those who spoke were Howard Hedstrom and Mary Somnis from the local Economic Development Authority, Jim Boyd from the local Chamber of Commerce, Linda Kratt from Visit Cook County and Charles Skinner from Lutsen Mountains. All of these individuals were invited to speak on behalf of Cadwell at the encouragement of Commissioner Jan Sivertson. In an email sent on Nov. 26, Sivertson invited all of the aforementioned individuals to speak duing Tuesday’s meeting on behalf of Cadwell. Siverston originally voted against forming the review committee and subsequently made the motion on Nov. 29 to rescind having the committee after it was approved by the board one week prior.