Pingree Grove tells communications manager: resign or be fired

The communications manager in Pingree Grove is expected to be fired Monday after a potential replacement was interviewed earlier this week.

Paula Eaton, who also served as village clerk and office manager, said she was told Wednesday in a meeting with Village President Steve Wiedmeyer and Village Attorney Dean Frieders that she could either resign or be terminated by the board at its next meeting.

Eaton, who was hired in September, said she was told the move had nothing to do with her performance. "That's the first thing I asked, but they said my performance was exemplary. They said the village was going in a different direction," she said, adding she will not resign. Her yearly salary is about $51,000, she said.

Wiedmeyer refused comment.

Frieders declined to discuss specifics, but said he didn't "necessarily agree with all of (Eaton's) recollection" of Wednesday's conversation.

The village board is scheduled to vote on Eaton's termination on Monday night, he said.

"If Paula did not wish to have an item like this go before the board, she would have the ability to resign from her position," he said, adding a severance package for Eaton is not part of the meeting's agenda.

Trustee Ray LaMarca said Eaton's performance was lackluster. "We had certain visions for the position when we hired Paula, and unfortunately it didn't work," LaMarca said.

Trustee Bob Spieker agreed. "For me, it was a performance issue," he said.

Trustees interviewed a candidate for the job of communications manager on Tuesday, Spieker and LaMarca said.

The meetings took place two trustees at a time so as to not violate the Open Meetings Act, they said. Prior to that, Wiedmeyer had discussed the matter with trustees individually to ensure a consensus was reached regarding Eaton's future with the village, they said.

The village is attempting to move quickly because of its low levels of staffing, Spieker said. "Unfortunately we don't have the luxury of a lot of (staff) support," he said.

Eaton questioned whether her imminent firing is tied to her support of former village President Greg Marston in his bid for re-election in April.

During the campaign season, Trustee Bernie Thomas asked Eaton and her husband to remove a sign supporting Marston from their yard, Eaton said. Thomas declined to comment.

Eaton also pointed out she and her husband signed up for health coverage under the village's insurance plan effective May 1, which added to the village's costs. "Maybe they're looking at me - my age, my health - and they're thinking they could do better," she said.

That has nothing to do with Eaton's upcoming firing because the village budgets for all potential employee insurance costs, Spieker and LaMarca said.

The board will discuss Monday whether to hire the candidate interviewed earlier in the week or search for more candidates, LaMarca said. Former Village Clerk Michelle Figuerola will temporarily resume the role of village clerk, he said.