Pingree Grove doesn't fire communications manager, for now

The village of Pingree Grove stalled on firing its communications manager in order to draft a "letter of performance" and give her the chance to respond by Thursday.

Paula Eaton, who also served as village clerk and office manager, was hired in September. Her yearly salary was about $51,000.

The village board decided on the move after meeting in executive session for about 1½ hours on Monday. Trustees initially were scheduled to vote on firing Eaton, who said she was told last week she could resign or be fired.

The board instead approved giving Eaton paid administrative leave in order to draft the letter and meet again Thursday night to discuss the matter. Eaton can respond to the letter by 5 p.m. Thursday and will be invited to that night's meeting at 8 p.m., Village President Steve Wiedmeyer said.

The board also approved hiring a part-time employee to work flexible hours through Aug. 4.

A candidate for Eaton's position was interviewed by village trustees last week, but Village Attorney Dean Frieders declined to say if that person would be the one hired part time.

Several of Eaton's friends and neighbors showed up at the board meeting, which Eaton did not attend.

"They are railroading a person that came in here and did a great job," Bob Nelson said. "They are acting like a small farm community, and they are the good old boys."

Resident Nick Tortorich said Eaton is in the board's crosshairs because she and her husband supported former Village President Greg Marston, who lost in the April election. "It was politically motivated," he said.

Wiedmeyer didn't respond to a reporter's question regarding any such political motivation.

Frieders said that if Eaton is fired, it will be "for cause."

Eaton said that during the campaign season Trustee Bernie Thomas asked her and her husband to remove a yard sign supporting Marston. Thomas declined to comment on the issue.

Resident Gloria Mazan said she was shocked when she found out Eaton was scheduled to be fired Monday. "I have a feeling it's because of the new mayor," she said. "People sometimes just want to change things, and they need to get their buddies in there."

Eaton said she was told last week in a meeting with Wiedmeyer and Frieders that the decision to sever her ties with the village had nothing do with her performance.

However, board members said that was indeed the issue and that Eaton's performance was lacking.