The Forest Preserve District of Cook County works closely with Cook County government’s Bureau of Human Resources for recruitment, selection, classification, compensation, training and termination of Forest Preserve District personnel. This department also administers, supervises and maintains records of Payroll operations and disbursements.
In an effort to be helpful and transparent to job applicants and current employees, the District has created this page as a resource for information and links to important District policies.
For current job openings, please click here.
To see a copy of the FPDCC Employment Plan, click here.
To see a copy of the FPDCC Supplemental Policies Manual, please click here.
Shakman Decree
In 1969, a federal civil lawsuit entitled Michael L. Shakman, et al vs. Democratic Organization of Cook County, et al., case number 69 C 2145 (“the Shakman case”), was filed by a group of plaintiffs against various defendants including Cook County and the current District Compliance Administrator, Jan Carlson, then the Circuit Court Clerk of Kane County. In 1978 The Forest Preserve District of Cook County entered into a Consent Decree with the plaintiffs to resolve some of the claims made in the lawsuit. That Consent Decree specifically prohibited the District from “conditioning or affecting any term or aspect of governmental employment (with respect to persons once hired) upon or because of any political reason or factor.” A subsequent Consent Decree was entered in 1994 that extended these prohibitions to include the districts hiring practices, with certain exclusions. These agreements have collectively come to be known as the “Shakman Decrees”. The Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has retained jurisdiction over the case. The Court’s powers include the power to enforce the Consent Decrees.
On January 14th, 2009, Judge Wayne Andersen, with the agreement of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and the plaintiffs, entered a Supplemental Relief Order (SRO) in the Shakman case. The SRO is intended to ensure that the District complies with hiring and employment practices as they relate to political consideration, and to adjudicate claims of political discrimination.
FPDCC’s Third Amended List of Shakman-Exempt Positions (February 15, 2012)
For more information regarding the Shakman Compliance Administrator and the Shakman decree, click here.
To contact the complaint hotline for the Office of the Independent Inspector General of Cook County call (312) 603-0745, or click here.
To obtain General Superintendent Reports from the Director of Compliance please click here.
To see a copy of the FPDCC 2011 Annual Appropriation Ordinance, click here.
Uniform Political Contact Log
On April 18, 2011, Cook County Board and Forest Preserve District Board President, Toni Preckwinkle along with Independent Inspector General, Patrick Blanchard; Cook County Compliance Administrator, Mary Robinson; and District Compliance Administrator, Jan Carlson announced the introduction and distribution of a uniform Political Contact Log to employees under the jurisdiction of the County Board President, the Cook County Health and Hospitals System (“Health System”) and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (“District”).
In order to further the goal of eliminating unlawful political discrimination in government and to foster a transparent, honest and fair employment process, Cook County, District and the Health System wish to reaffirm their joint goal of eliminating unlawful political discrimination and to remind County and District employees and officials of their obligations to log certain political contacts and to use the Political Log when documenting certain political contacts. President Preckwinkle is committed to upholding the prohibition against politically-related persons and organizations influencing or attempting to influence employment actions involving employees deemed “non-exempt” for purposes of this prohibition. See the links below to read the Letter to Employees and to download a copy of the Political Contact Log.
Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination Training Presentation – Revised April 18, 2011
All employees and applicants should review the Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination training presentation revised on April 18, 2011. The training presentation provides a historical perspective, addresses the prohibition of unlawful political discrimination and retaliation, duties to report, the certification process, logging of certain political contacts and enforcement.
Prohibition of Unlawful Political Discrimination Training Presentation (Unlawful Political Discrimination Training PPT – 4-20111 – 1MB)
Compliance
As required under the Employment Plan, the Forest Preserve District hired a Director of Compliance whose responsibilities include the following:
1) Overseeing compliance with the Employment Plan;
2) Maintaining and reviewing the Exempt List;
3) Accepting, investigating, and reporting on complaints related to Employment Plan;
4) Reporting instances of unlawful political discrimination; and
5) Training on Employment Plan and Supplemental Policies.
If you would like to make a complaint, a Complaint Form is available by clicking here or you can contact the Director of Compliance directly.
The Director of Compliance is also responsible for ensuring that the Forest Preserve District responds to reports issued by the Office of the Independent Inspector General or reports issued by the Director of Compliance. Such reports are available to the public upon request. Please click here to download a form to request such documents.
Contact Information:
Jennifer Lin
Director of Compliance
Forest Preserve District of Cook County
69 W. Washington, Ste. 2010
Chicago IL 60602
Direct Phone: 312-603-2335
Mobile: 773-332-2893
Fax: 312-603-9850
jennifer.lin@cookcountyil.gov
