Economic Director Tim Bleuher was fired this week for violating the “letter and spirit” of Des Plaines’ residency requirement for department heads, officials said.
Last week aldermen voted 7-1 to rebuke the economic director. Bleuher declined to submit his resignation during a Friday meeting even though City Manager Dave Niemeyer offered to give him a letter of recommendation, Niemeyer said during Monday’s City Council meeting. Bleuher was fired Monday, Niemeyer said. There was no severance pay, officials said.
Bleuher, a Chicago resident, was given a year to move to Des Plaines when he was hired in September 2004. More recently, Bleuher was given until July 6 to move or present a sales contract, Niemeyer said.
Bleuher recently told aldermen he had a contract for a Des Plaines town home, but the contract was “too uncertain as to whether or if the town home will be built,” according to a resolution passed by aldermen last week in closed session, City Clerk Donna McAllister said.
In March, Bleuher got a 15 percent raise, Niemeyer said. He was placed on administrative leave Aug. 7.