GOV, Welch voted out as school district attorney [D88]

Tonight by a 4-3 vote Emanuel "Chris" Welch and his law firm, James J. Roche & Associates, were fired from District 88, the elementary school district serving Bellwood and Stone Park.

The three members who had been in the minority (Althea Busby, Toni Dorris and John Wicks) were joined by longtime board member Marilyn Thurman, who is thought to be allied with Chuck Baxter.

The board justified the decision by citing Welch's exhorbitant legal bills. James J. Roche charged District 88 over $220,000 in a five month period according to one board member.

Board member John Wicks says no quid pro quo arrangements were made with Thurman.

The motion was made under new business and Welch's initial reaction was that he had the vote, "in the bag".

Since the issue was not included in agenda provided in advance Welch may have grounds for challenging the termination.

From page 11 of the Illinois Attorney General Guide to the Open Meetings Act (pdf):

The Act provides that this requirement "shall not preclude the consideration of items not specifically set forth in the [regular meeting] agenda." [Note: "consideration of" has been construed to exclude action on a topic...."

There are a few problems with Welch trying to overturn the decision this way.

1. He was the attorney at the meeting. If he missed it at the time it reflects poorly on his knowledge and skill as an attorney.
2. District 88 fired James K. Graham without properly including the item in the agenda. Welch was the attorney that said it was OK to fire Graham without including the issue in the agenda provided 48 hours in advance.
3. There's nothing to stop District 88 from firing James J. Roche again.

But Welch has been fired from District 88 before and he's been been rehired, so this story might not be over.

[UPDATE: You remember the scene in Robocop where Alderman Miller takes hostages after losing an election. He tells the hostage negotiator, "First, don't fuck with me. I'm a desperate man! And second, I want some fresh coffee. And third, I want a recount! And no matter how it turns out, I want my old job back!"

[Apparently, Chris Welch wants a recount of the vote. And he wants his old job back. See Proviso Insider. Welch is using the idea he read on Proviso Probe to contest getting fired.

[Here's some more free advice for Chris Welch. Remember how the scene ends for Alderman Miller? Robocop grabs Miller through the wall and throws him out the window.]