Outgoing Naperville city manager to get severance package

Recently resigned City Manager Peter Burchard will receive a $32,000 payout, forgiveness of a $50,000 loan and six months of health insurance as part of a severance package the city council approved Tuesday.

In return, he will provide consulting services to the city for the next six months.

Councilman Grant Wehrli said Burchard's 10 years of institutional knowledge cannot be overlooked.

Wehrli, along with councilmen Robert Fieseler, Kenn Miller, John Rosanova, James Boyajian and Mayor George Pradel approved the deal. Doug Krause and Richard Furstenau voted against the proposal and Darlene Senger was absent.

Burchard resigned Dec. 7 after 10 years on the job. Through his attorney, he said at the time health problems were forcing him to leave and he is entitled to a severance. The possibility of a severance package was in his contract with the city.

Burchard is recovering from his second back surgery in two years and is leaving to take a job in the health care field.

He initially asked for a year's salary -- about $173,000 -- in addition to the insurance and loan forgiveness. The loan was for the purchase of a home when he was hired in 1997.

Several residents and councilmen said Tuesday they do not believe an employee who is resigning should receive a severance.

"He's a great employee, no doubt about that, but we paid him well and he quit," Councilman Doug Krause said. "When you quit you don't get anything."

Burchard was not present at the meeting. He will provide consulting services until June 7.