The Evanston City Council voted 5-4 last week in favor of a separation agreement with City Manager Erika Storlie.
The Council met in a special meeting Aug. 12 after “robust discussion” during their regular meeting earlier in the week.
While the majority of City Council agreed to the separation, some members believed that the agreement needed to be more clear on the circumstances regarding Storlie’s resignation.
“I think that this particular separation agreement is not as clear as it could be to ensure that we are going to be as forthcoming as we should be to our residents regarding what happened at the lakefront,” said Ald. Devon Reid.
Ald. Clare Kelly expressed concern with a confidentiality clause. The agreement state that the city will “keep confidential information relating to Storlie’s employment by the City, except as required by law.”
Kelly said she believes that this sentence was “problematic.”
“What you’re doing is not transparent,” she said. “What you’re doing offering the opportunity to shield a huge amount of information, not only on this report, but from a myriad of other issues that could have happened in the city by allowing that to stand.”
Per the original proposed agreement, Storlie would remain the city manager until Oct. 8, 2021. She would receive a severance package including her normal salary, 20 weeks of compensation and health care coverage through Dec. 31, 2021.
The agreement comes weeks after WBEZ uncovered allegations of sexual misconduct among lifeguards at lakefront beaches.
Mayor Daniel Biss made a statement on the investigation into the allegations at the lakefront during the meeting. He said he believes the separation agreement leaves the city free to make as much of the investigation public as the City Council sees fit.
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“Now, I’ll tell you right now, I believe there should be a written report,” he said. “Nothing in the agreement passed tonight should bind us in any way regarding the investigation. The investigation continues as though this agreement did not occur with full cooperation.”
Other members of council echoed the mayor’s remarks and said that they will make as much of the report public as possible.
In an Aug. 16 news release from the city, the City’ Council’s plans to appoint Kelley Gandurski as interim city manager were announced. A vote is expected Sept. 13 and Gandurski is expected to begin her role Oct. 8.
She has worked as deputy city manager since April of this year and was previously the city’s chief legal council.
“I appreciate Kelley stepping up to lead our organization,” Biss said in the statement. “Kelley has the experience and leadership skills necessary to guide our City through this period of transition, and I look forward to working with her in the months to come. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Erika for her 16 years of dedicated service to our community.”
A search for a permanent city manager will also begin.
“The City Council looks forward to the community’s input and participation in this important process,” the statement reads.
Emily Little is a freelance reporter.