RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20, 2014
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Board President Kathleen Therese Meany's twenty-six years of service to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and congratulating her on her well-earned retirement
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WHEREAS, the Honorable Kathleen Therese Meany, having faithfully served on the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago since 1990, has announced her retirement effective December 1, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen Therese Meany was born to James and Lucille Meany on October 8th, 1948, the youngest of four daughters including Mary Lou, Jane, and Clare; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Roosevelt University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, Kathleen went on to receive her Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University at the John F. Kennedy School of Government; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen taught elementary school for several years in suburban Matteson and with the Chicago Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, teaching at The Good Shepherd Mission on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona helped Kathleen develop an interest in environmental issues that served her well during her years with the MWRD; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1970's, Kathleen began a long association with the City Colleges of Chicago, which included teaching a variety of adult education courses, later earning the status of a tenured Assistant Professor of Political Science; and
WHEREAS, the City Colleges also played an important role in Kathleen's personal life when she met her dear husband, Salvatore Attinello, a retired Harold Washington College librarian there; and
WHEREAS, from 1987 to 1989, Kathleen served as an aide to her friend and later colleague, MWRD Commissioner Nancy Drew Sheehan; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen ran her first campaign for elective office in 1990 from a headquarters in her father's basement with a great team of family and friends, and after waiting election night until 3:00 am to hear the results in the pre-computer era, Kathleen was thrilled to learn she was successful and would serve her first term as Commissioner of MWRD; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen was delighted and honored to be re-elected to the Board in 1996, 2002, and 2008; and
WHEREAS, during her 24 years as Commissioner, Kathleen established and served on the committees on Federal Legislation and Public Information; served as Chair of the committees on Ethics, Pension, Human Resources and Civil Service; served as Vice Chair of the Committee on Finance; became the District's Representative to the Northern Illinois Planning Commission; and served as Board Chairman of the MWRD Credit Union; and
WHEREAS, one of the legacies of Kathleen's tenure at the MWRD is her establishment of the District's widely successful Household Hazardous Waste Collection program in 1993 that continues on today; and
WHEREAS, due to her association with the Windy City Vets, and her appreciation for the greater veteran community, Kathleen established the practice of flying the POW MIA flags at District facilities; and
WHEREAS, a proud supporter of labor, Kathleen has been a dedicated union member of the National Education Association, the Chicago Teachers Union, and the Cook County College Teachers Union, and she was proud to sign the first multi-project labor agreement for the MWRD in 1998; and
WHEREAS, throughout her time at the MWRD, Kathleen has ably served with numerous Board Members, five General Superintendents, and countless employees, many with whom she has made wonderful friendships that she will treasure long after her retirement; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen has made numerous trips over the years to Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Illinois to work with elected State and Federal officials and representatives from Government Agencies to lobby for the MWRD's legislative agenda and to secure funding for TARP, Stormwater Projects, and many other important initiatives that the MWRD has undertaken over the years; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen was elected Vice-President of the Board of Commissioners in 1995 and served in that capacity for 16 years; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Kathleen became the first woman-elected President of the Board of Commissioners of the MWRD in its 125-year history; and
WHEREAS, the District will miss Kathleen's leadership, integrity, enthusiasm, patience, kind heart, bright smile, and above all, her commitment to the District's mission and the people of Cook County; and
WHEREAS, Kathleen's future plans include spending more time with her husband, Sal; enjoying the company of her sisters, dear nieces, nephews, grand-kiddies and life-long friends; traveling; continuing her love of reading and participating in her book club; indulging in her joy of playing the piano; and discovering new interests to pursue with the goal of finding a comfortable balance in life; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, do hereby recognize Kathleen Therese Meany's dedicated service for twenty-six years to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and express our gratitude and appreciation for her work on behalf of the taxpayers of the District; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Kathleen Therese Meany.
Dated: November 20, 2014
Approved: KATHLEEN THERESE MEANY, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice-President; MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MICHAEL A. ALVAREZ; FRANK AVILA; CYNTHIA M. SANTOS; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; PATRICK D. THOMPSON, Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel