Feb. 10--The College of DuPage formally abdicated its responsibility to fill a trustee vacancy Wednesday, leaving the critical decision with the state agency that oversees community colleges.
The board's acting chairwoman, Deanne Mazzochi, canceled a Thursday meeting intended to give the bitterly divided board an eleventh-hour opportunity to choose a candidate. Three trustees had declined to attend the meeting, meaning the board would not have had the quorum necessary to make a selection, according to the college.
"I had hoped everyone would be willing to put forth their best efforts to select the seventh trustee," Mazzochi said in a statement Wednesday. "It remains disappointing that three willingly abdicated that responsibility before even coming to the table. Nevertheless, I look forward to establishing a productive working relationship with the future appointee, and working for the betterment of our college community."
The board did not hold a single meeting to discuss filling the vacancy, which was created when Chairwoman Katharine Hamilton abruptly resigned in December. Hamilton's departure left the board with a 3-3 split, prompting boycotts over agendas and separate meeting times from each faction.
The six trustees had 60 days -- until Feb. 11 -- to name a replacement, according to state law. It's now too late to make an attempt because such meetings would require 48 hours' notice under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Without a consensus candidate, Illinois Community College Board Chairman Lazaro Lopez will make the appointment. Lopez, a College of DuPage graduate, has been reviewing potential candidates and will make the decision as soon as possible, an ICCB spokesman said.
State officials could not recall another time when the ICCB had to step in to name a board member.
Veteran trustee Dianne McGuire, who boycotted several meetings, did not plan to attend the Thursday meeting and has said for weeks that she wants Lopez to make the selection.
"Sometimes a fresh perspective and a view from the outside is just what is needed," McGuire said.
ssclair@tribpub.com
jscohen@tribpub.com
