Des Plaines city manager to resign

Des Plaines aldermen have given City Manager Jason Bajor the signal they want him out - a 5-3 vote taken in closed session Thursday night to pursue Bajor's resignation.

After a more than two-hour, closed-door discussion Thursday night, the city council came back into public session and voted 5-3 that "staff should proceed with council recommendation regarding personnel" given in closed session.

City Attorney David Wiltse would not reveal what the vote actually meant, saying it did not constitute a final action and that a final vote will be taken at a later public meeting.

Yet, several council members confirmed Friday the majority council consensus was to negotiate the terms of Bajor's departure. They would not speak for attribution, since the resignation has not yet taken place.

Aldermen John Robinson (2nd Ward), Matt Bogusz (3rd), James Brookman (5th), Mark Walsten (6th) and Rosemary Argus (8th) voted in favor of Bajor's resignation.

The "no" votes were aldermen Patti Haugeberg (1st), Jean Higgason (4th) and Dan Wilson (7th).

Bajor did not return calls Friday to discuss his situation.

Bajor has been with the city since 2000. He began as an assistant city manager in charge of human resources and became acting city manager on David Niemeyer's departure in May 2007. Bajor became city manager in February 2008.

Bajor's current yearly pay is $138,000. Citing the tough economy, he decided to forego a salary increase this year which would have amounted to about $7,000.

Bajor has had his detractors, including those who have questioned the expansion of his authority by consolidating various departments and duties under the city manager's office.

But none of the aldermen who voted for Bajor's departure would discuss Friday why they want him to leave.

Des Plaines Mayor Martin J. Moylan said Bajor contacted the city attorney and Alderwoman Argus sometime last week to discuss the possibility of resigning and to inquire whether he would get a severance package if he did.

However, it's unclear whether Bajor initiated the resignation talk or if he was trying to pre-empt a movement to fire him.

Bajor has not made his request for resignation in writing. There is also some question as to whether Bajor fought to keep his job during the closed discussion.

Because Bajor has not offered his resignation, some aldermen are unsure how all this will play out.

"We left this in limbo," Wilson said. "That vote was not really definitive. I like the guy. I think he was an effective leader. Obviously, I was in the minority here."

Ward 3 Alderman Matt Bogusz, whose vote was among the majority Thursday, said, "the council has to make the decision that's best for the city. I am eager to get back to the issues facing our residents."

Out: Bajor has been with Des Plaines since 2000