By: Diane Benjamin

Last year Connect Transit paid Managing Director David Braun:

In November he abruptly announced a leave of absence and then resigned. Wasn’t he the guy who wasted around $16 million on electric buses?

Media reported his leave of absence and that he may not return: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-11-13/connect-transits-managing-director-takes-leave-of-absence

In December media dutifully reported the Board approved a separation agreement.

One example: https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/12/17/connect-transits-director-resigns-prompting-national-search-replacement/

The December 16th separation agreement was not posted along with the Special Meeting Agenda: https://connect-transit.com/file/3988/A_Agenda_Special%20Meeting_12%2016%202025.pdf

Did media wonder what was in that agreement?

I did, so a FOIA’d it. Obviously the document was readily available because the Board approved it.

It took much longer than the 5 days the law allows to get it!

The video of that meeting is below. No one on the Board objected to the terms. I don’t believe the two City Managers who hand money to them were present.

Start at Point 3. If you resign from your job, are you getting paid for 20 weeks? Are you getting healthcare insurance for 20 weeks free?

Just the compensation is worth at least $68,000. The health insurance benefit is unknown but likely thousands more. The meeting video and this agreement do not explain why 20 weeks was chosen.

This news story claims Braun resigned to “pursue more professional opportunities”. https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/connect-transit-leadership-change/

Would you have been paid for 20 weeks?

Media won’t ask why. It’s only important to me that you know the fleece continues.

Just hit Play, there was no discussion before the vote.