State Rep. Jack Franks, chairman of the House government oversight committee, criticized Metra for classifying board members as employees when paying them expenses and benefits, instead of as independent directors overseeing a public agency.

Franks, D-Marengo, also singled out a political rival, former McHenry County Republican state Sen. Jack Schaffer, for getting health care coverage from both the state and from Metra, as well as two state pensions while accumulating a third from the commuter rail agency.

Metra Chairwoman Carole Doris responded that Franks’ attack was “based upon an erroneous view of the law and a twisted presentation of information.”

Schaffer said Franks was playing politics, and said the compensation and benefits for Metra board members were established by the legislature, adding that he’d be willing to forgo them.

“Rep. Franks … has his own agenda, which has nothing to do with Metra,” Schaffer said. “If he wants to do away with pensions and benefits, I could care less.”

Saying the board has failed in its watchdog role, Franks contended Metra is “squandering our tax dollars to benefit connected insiders.” Franks has filed legislation seeking to take away all pay, health care and pension benefits for Metra directors.

Known for holding attention-grabbing news conferences at the Capitol, Franks also said the board improperly misclassified its members as employees rather than independent directors, allowing them to take advantage of lucrative perks. He called for further investigation to see whether there should be sanctions levied.

“Metra has systematically, deceitfully, intentionally and possibly illegally misclassified its board of directors as employees instead of the outside independent directors they are,” Franks said. “By definition, outside directors are not employees but independent.”

As he done has previously, Franks again called on the entire 11-member Metra board to step down, contending they have “not cleaned up after the nightmare” of former Executive Director Phil Pagano. Pagano committed suicide May 7 after disclosures that he had taken $475,000 in

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