Wood Dale manager ends 37 years of service

For the first time in 37 years, Wood Dale City Manager Frank Williams will wake up Monday morning and not have a Wood Dale job to rush to.

During a closed door meeting that stretched into early Friday morning, Williams handed over the village administration reins to Assistant City Manager Jeff Mermuys, essentially ending a career with the city that included a 29-year stint as police chief and three years as city manager.

Williams, 60, will spend the rest of his contract, which expires May 31, on vacation, and Mermuys, 26, will handle the daily operations of the city. Williams will retain his city car and will be available to staff members and attend certain meetings through May.

Mayor Ken Johnson said the council was grateful for all of Williams' work and dedication during the past three decades but cited personnel issues when pressed for details on Williams' early exit.

"For 37 years Frank was always on the job. He was never sick and rarely took vacation," Johnson said. "He chose to use up those benefits between now and May 31 instead of being paid out at the end."

Looking to the future, aldermen will begin working with The PAR Group executive search firm in an effort to find a full-time manager while continuing to groom Mermuys.

Last week several aldermen questioned the need for a search when they considered Mermuys to be "ready and waiting."

The Addison native said he looks forward to learning more from the next manager.

"It was really great to know my hard work was really paying off when multiple elected officials inquired about my interest in becoming manager on a full-time basis," Mermuys said Friday. "I, however, enjoy my current job as assistant manager and declined the offer for the position as well as any near-future offers to interview for the position."

In the near future he will be helping aldermen through the time of transition between managers.

"I believe in following Wood Dale's motto, 'Working together to make life better,' and I feel that if you follow that simple phrase good things are awaiting Wood Dale in the future," he said.

Williams, alternatively, doesn't know what his future holds and plans to use the next few months figuring that out.

"I spent 37 years with the city of Wood Dale so it's time to look at other things," he said Friday. "I'm only 60 so I have some time and I want to put it to good use, whether it be volunteering or in the professional world. I still need to decide that."

But he didn't realize he would have as much time to ponder as he does.

"I would have been willing to stay to the end of the year but a majority of the council did not want me to stay," he said. "Sometimes things are better this way so I hope this is good for them and good for me."