Two Joliet Junior College Board Trustees resign

JOLIET — Joliet Junior College may have to fill three seats on its board after two JJC board trustees resigned at Tuesday’s workshop meeting.

Board Chairwoman Tina Markley and trustee Barb Adams decided to resign from the board at the start of a workshop meeting Tuesday. They both then walked out of the meeting, leaving three other board members – Robert Wunderlich, Andy Mihelich and Michael O’Connell – stunned into silence.

Markley, who was vice chairwoman before Jeff May resigned in July due to health reasons, said she was surprised by the last board meeting, where she thought other board members made attempts to remove her from her position on the board.

“Was I humiliated at the meeting? Absolutely not,” she said.

She said she was also “absolutely appalled” that internal board politics superseded the needs of the students. She said she had no desire to sit on a board that lacks integrity or decency.

After she announced her resignation, Trustee Adams said she wanted to resign as well. They then both walked out of the meeting.

After some silence, JJC Board Attorney Todd Hayden said trustees were in a “unique spot” because the board lacked a quorum. Only Wunderlich, O’Connell and Mihelich were present. The board is meant to have seven elected members, plus an appointed student trustee.

After more silence, the trustees decided to hear reports from other college officials before deciding what to do next.

JJC Board trustees have been accepting applications to fill a vacancy since May resigned in July. But now the board has two more vacancies.