Much has been written about the Grodsky “retirement”.
Mr. Biagi, some local bloggers and commenter’s as well as local newspapers, stated Ms. Grodsky’s unexpected departure, her “retirement”, was of her own choice, while seniors who worked closely with Ms. Grodsky, continue to believe otherwise.
On March 09, 2012 I submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA-120309-001), requesting:
“Please provide: a copy of the agreement, addendums, codicils and/or other supplements or attachments there to.”
The purpose of the request was to gather facts used to confirm or refute hearsay and other unsubstantiated rumors and allegations – no matter the source.
The pages that follow represent the agreement as delivered to me in PDF format by Board’s Attorney on March 13, 2012.
Please note: clauses numbered 7 through 12 on pages: 4 of 12 and 5 of 12.
Teresa Grodsky – Severance Agreement and Release & Supplement - 11/16/2011 & 01/03/2012 Respectively
Page 1 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Page 12 of 12
11 comments:
I'm curious Mr. Butterly; in your opinion does this support or refute the position that she left on her own?
More importantly, what difference does it make if she left voluntarily or was eased out with a big fat package? Unless you are PubDog complaining about the size of the package, there should be no issue here. Anyone who has been employed in the last two decades knows that operations public and private modify their methodology -- and the staff who carry that out -- in response to fiscal and market conditions all the time. Nice operations ease people out with generous packages. Anyone who has been employed in the last two decades also knows that employees look at their organizations changing and decide there is no longer a fit, and since they are not indentured servants, they can leave -- and do leave -- any time they want. Whether Ms. Grodsky was unable or unwilling to be part of an organization in the process of change; whether she left voluntarily or under the polite story that it was voluntary; it's all what is done every day by and to thousands of employees in this country. There is no nefarious underhanded motive or plot.
good riddance!
Anonymous April 12th, 2:51 PM
You say good riddance! You obviously weren't a member of the Park Ridge Senior Center. Everyone there absolutely loved Teresa. She was the glue that made it work. She cared deeply about all of us. She brought out the best in everyone and encouraged them to move forward in their lives and expand their horizons. She improved and changed the quality of the lives of so many people in her 30 years as director of the center. She is deeply missed and the Park Ridge Senior Center will never be the same without her.
Helen,
Not everyone loved her. I am a member and was put off by her attitude and manipulative ways.
I think the Center is better off without her.
Right now the Center is adjusting to her departure, but change is inevitable -- we all know that.
Once things settle down, everything will go back to normal.
All my friends and I want to do is play cards and enjoy our time together.
We were doing it before, still doing it now.
Anonymous April 13, 2012 11:12 AM
You certainly are a minority. Maybe you an Dick Brandt can find a way to partner up!
And you're right. Things have settled down and down and down. Soon you and your "friends" will be playing cards below sea level.
Mask and fins are available at the pool next door!
Anon, 4/11
How naive your question is. This severance agreement by its very nature is proof positive that Teresa was terminated. Human Resource policies seek only a letter of intent to retire or resign. Of interest will be the future actions of the PRPD to see if it can replace her with just one individual.
There have always been several other individuals employed at and by the Park District Senior Center in various function-spanning positions (clerical to coordinator, for example, regardless of title) besides the Manager and not including the custodial staff member assigned to the building. We may assume that will continue. What's your point?
Anonymous - April 13, 2012 6:59 PM
Do you really want to go there? This is not a site appropriate to evaluate staff performance.
Was increasing liability for Park Ridge citizens not considered when the custodian presence was drastically reduced in 2010 to a couple of hours prior to 6 a.m. and to his move then to another building? Teresa and the seniors became responsible for room set-ups and cleaning as needed. Liability to Park Ridge was greatly increased as aging bones and muscles were required and encouraged to perform daily maintenance/cleaning tasks. The Senior Center is likely among the highest trafficked facilities in the District. Will the new manager complete those tasks willingly? Continue for more specific roles expected of your replacement employee.
Will your new manager soon complete state food service licensing requirements to allow the kitchen to operate or will the more expensive alternative of Catered refreshments become the norm? Will the public service of accessing a notary be possible? In 3 1/2 months of new management, I am hopeful the new manager has been trained to competently use the defibrillator to assist in emergencies.
Will the Senior's newsletter promote day time programs rather than the many listed in the April newsletter planned for evenings. I understand Teresa had completed programming along with her advisory group, the Senior Senate, through March. Now the true test of the ability of the Park District and its new leadership to provide recreation during day time hours begins...the newsletter listings were weak for April. Not a good showing.
The Park District lowered the maintenance work to a couple hours in the morning and then had the audacity to say the former management of the Senior Center had no value for cleanliness. But then, we're all getting used to how the Park District lies about things.
Since I've used the Community Center regularly for the past 10 years, and complained about the mold growing on the shower curtains, the scum on the shower walls, and the fact that parents wear street shoes on the pool deck during their kids swim lessons, I would not blame the seniors for the poor upkeep of the Senior Center facility.
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