The Triton College board of trustees avoided addressing concerns about its chairman, who was arrested on a felony drug charge
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last month, according to the Cook County College Teachers Union.“It’s hard to say how they’re responding because they didn’t respond to any of our comments last night,” union President Tony Johnston told the Tribune on Wednesday.
Chairman Mark Stephens, the brother of Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens, was arrested last month after officers found cocaine in his car, according to a Harvard police news release.
Johnston said he and another union representative for some of the River Grove community college’s employees asked Tuesday at the monthly board meeting for accountability and a transparent review process.
Representatives for Triton College did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The board moved into a closed session after public comment and did not address the concerns when opening back up, according to a union news release. Johnston said Mark Stephens didn’t attend.
He is also the son of the late Donald E. Stephens, former Rosemont mayor.
Johnston said he wants the trustees to examine if Mark Stephens’ business and political ties have ever compromised board decisions. However, he said he did not know of any specific conflicts of interest. Johnston said he was more concerned with Mark Stephens’ arrest and “past erratic behavior.”
“As a board chair, he tends to have a very unscripted, flamboyant manner about him,” he said. “During public comments, he cuts off people to interrupt them and discuss, and give his opinion on what they’re saying before they even have time to finish.”
Mark Stephens also didn’t treat diversity, equity and inclusion programs faculty and administration tried to start at Triton College “very seriously,” Johnston said.
Mark Stephens did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Johnston said he would like to see the board outline its plan by the next meeting on Sept. 22.
“Triton has been a difficult administration to negotiate with,” he said. “In the past few years, that has changed somewhat.”