Aug. 14--McHenry County is seeking a new representative on Metra's board of directors to replace Marc Munaretto, who said he is giving up the post after serving only a year because of time constraints.
"With three years remaining (in his term), the fair thing to do is to step aside and let someone who has the time to do the important work on Metra's board to step in," Munaretto told the Tribune on Thursday. "A lot of work goes into it."
Munaretto said his Algonquin-based commercial real estate development firm "is my livelihood and requires most of my attention." He also cited family commitments.
Munaretto submitted his resignation, effective Aug. 31, to McHenry County Board Chairman Joseph Gottemoller and Metra Chairman Martin Oberman.
Metra's 11-member board meets once a month, but directors say they often spend many additional hours on agency business. The post pays $15,000 a year.
Directors are appointed to four-year terms by the six northeastern Illinois county board chairmen, suburban members of the Cook County Board and the mayor of Chicago.
The McHenry County Board has posted an application for the opening on the county's website, with resumes due by Aug. 28.
Gottemoller said Thursday that no decision would be made until all applicants have been considered. About a dozen sought the appointment last year, and he expected many to apply again.
Munaretto had served 14 years on the McHenry County Board until 2012. He replaced Jack Schaffer, a former legislator and state official who had served on Metra's board since 2006.
Schaffer was well-known for uttering a dissenting "Hell no" vote in 2013 when Metra's board, most members of which have been replaced, ousted former CEO Alex Clifford with a controversial six-figure severance package.
rwronski@tribpub.com
