RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 9, 2015
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RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing Thomas Liston's thirty years of service to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and congratulating him on his well-earned retirement (As Revised)
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WHEREAS, Thomas Liston, having dutifully served the Monitoring and Research Department since 1985, has announced his retirement as Assistant Director of Monitoring and Research effective May 1, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Tom has been a staple in the Monitoring and Research Department since 1985, when he started at the District as a Research Chemist; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, he was promoted to Laboratory Manager, where he successfully completed and maintained NELAC Laboratory Accreditation, implemented a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and was an integral member of the team that gained accreditation from the National Biosolids Partnership for the District Environmental Management System; and
WHEREAS, in 2008 he was promoted to Assistant Director of Monitoring and Research, where he was instrumental in the District's efforts to reduce and reclaim phosphorous in addition to other resource recovery efforts of the District; and
WHEREAS, in his thirty years at the District, he supervised many employees from all walks of life, approaching each one as a valued individual on his team, always able to see the best in that individual and work to bring it out; and
WHEREAS, Tom was not only active in employees professional growth, but also encouraged employees' personal health by organizing annual participation in the Corporate Challenge, a city-wide 5k race in which organizations are represented by teams of employees; and
WHEREAS, Tom also championed the District's participation in the annual Bike to Work Week, riding from Mount Greenwood to the Stickney Plant during that week and nearly every other day that the weather and his schedule allowed; and
WHEREAS, his wife Therese, his children Danny, Tim, Maggie and Emily have shared Tom with the District for long enough and fully intend to keep him busy with projects, errands and babysitting; and
WHEREAS, while he will be sorely missed at the District for his technical skills and the depth and detailed scope of his knowledge, the District will miss most the kindness and patience he displayed to all throughout his career; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners and staff of the District extend their heartfelt wishes for as much success in his retirement as Tom has enjoyed throughout his career and express our sincere gratitude to his family for allowing the District to take advantage of Tom's outstanding commitment and unparalleled talents for the benefit of all residents of the District; 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 Thomas Liston's dedicated service for thirty years to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and express our gratitude and appreciation for his 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 embossed, be presented to Thomas Liston.
Dated: April 9, 2015
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; MICHAEL A. ALVAREZ; TIMOTHY BRADFORD; 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