It was Rick Biagi all along!

Appalled, Hoodwinked & Relieved!

Friends, I’m appalled at how easily I’d been hoodwinked into believing Park Board Presidents Jim O’Brien, Mary Wynn-Ryan and Rick Biagi were all responsible for the Senior Center Fiasco, the Kemnitz Trust Disaster and Vile/Grodsky Data-Dump Farce.

Now, based on Bob Trizna’s recent post: ELECTION 2013- Endorsements for Park Ridge Recreation & Park District Board; we’ve finally learned the truth.

It was Rick Biagi all along!

I’ve got to tell you, I’m relieved.  Now I can finally ignore former Board Presidents Jim O’Brien and Mary Wynn-Ryan; who, if you believe Bob, were merely ineffective and insignificant puppets

I am however, disappointed that Bob Trizna waited this long to fill us in. 

Of course, in the end, the jokes on us!

In another show of Trizna mirth, Bob goes on to describe Ricks leadership involvement in the expensive and destructive Senior Center and Kemnitz Affairs, yet in the end, endorses his good friend Biagi none the less!

You just can’t make this up folks! 

As many of you know, Bob Trizna is a former Park Ridge Park District Commissioner; and like his good friend Rick Biagi, Bob also served as Board’s President.  So if anyone knows PRPD Board behind-the-curtain ins-and-outs; Bob’s the guy to pay attention to! 

Bob Trizna says Rick’s responsible! 

“Biagi has been the leader of the Park Board for much of the past four years, irrespective of where around the Board table he has sat. That means, however, that the “buck” stops at his chair when it comes to the two gaffes we discussed above; and we hold him accountable for them.”

Say it isn’t so!

Based on Trizna’s keen analysis and insider information and the fact that it’s been close to 48 hours and Mr. Biagi has not denied his friends allegations, it now appears safe for us to believe the following about Rick Biagi’s tenure as Park Ridge Park District Commissioner. 

According to Bob, Rick Biagi was:

	the power behind the thrown of both the O’Brien and Wynn-Ryan Board Presidencies – which would make O’Brien and Wynn-Ryan puppets
	the power behind “Toilet-gate” story of alleged pre-2011 Senior Center toilet denial
	the idea-man behind Board’s decision to renege on 2005 PRPD/SSI reparation clause
	the power behind the O’Brien Board decision to withhold a public debate and vote UP or DOWN on a negotiated contract renewal; a decision that cost the taxpayers $10,000+
	the brains behind the whole Senior Center mess and the tens-of-thousands of taxpayer dollars in Attorneys fees alone I’m not even discussing the lost staff productivity, the loss of a highly trained award winning Senior Center Director, the confidence of Park Ridge senior community and 30 years of hard won good will and prestige.
	the brains behind the Boards decision to seize the Kemnitz Trust monies.

All those things, according to Biagi’s good friend Bob; all that lack of good judgment, all that lost money, all the good will and wasted time; are the result of four years of Biagi power-lust!

Yet, Bob Trizna, in spite of everything presented above, still believes Park Ridge citizens should reelect his friend Rick and his two running-mates. 

My question for you is:

Should Biagi, Hunst and Brandt be reelected?

 

Helen Roppel Guest Comments

As most of you know, I’ve made it a policy to allow members of Park Ridge Senior Center, Senior Services, Inc. and Park District to express themselves: on this site.  Ms. Helen Roppel attended a meeting at the Senior Center yesterday and wished to respond to information presented by PRPD Board President Rick Biagi.

Ken Butterly

Ms. Roppel’s Comment:

I attended a meeting at the Senior Center today.  The reason for the meeting was to explain the Settlement Agreement between the Park District and SSI and to answer member questions.

During the course of the meeting, I asked Mr. Biagi a two point question. 

Point #1 – If all former bequests over the last 30 years to the Senior Center were given to Senior Services Inc., why did the Park District suddenly think that the Betty Kemnitz bequest should be awarded to them? 

He was unable to answer. 

Point #2 – Why did you direct the Park District Attorney, Tom Hoffman, to place a call to the trust attorney instructing him to file a law suit to determine to whom the monies should be awarded? 

Mr. Biagi, responded that the we did not direct Tom Hoffman to contact the trust attorney. 

Later today, I was reviewing Park District Attorney, Tom Hoffman’s, billing records that had been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.  To my surprise, I found the following, which completely contradicts the answer given to me by Mr. Biagi this morning.

From 2011 Attorney Billing Records

 

For clarification, DS as referenced above, is Don Smith, the Betty Kemnitz trust attorney.  Clearly on November 27th, Tom Hoffman states that he shared his drafted letter to Don Smith with client with suggestion to file suit for direction on the Kemnitz matter.

The December 12th entry sheds light on the response to the first point of my question, which Mr. Biagi didn’t answer.  In the billing records, it is stated that after the Park District learned that SSI had plans to open another senior center using the funds from the Betty Kemnitz bequest, Don Smith was directed to file suit immediately.  It appears, the Park District didn’t really believe they deserved the money.  Apparently, their sole purpose was to stop SSI from opening another senior center with the funds.

Further, on the December 12th billing records, there was discussion to determine whether the Park District or the trust attorney, Don Smith, would file suit; and this was discussed with client.

I rest my case.

Helen Roppel