New Des Plaines manager pick expected Monday

Des Plaines could pick its new city manager Monday night.

Aldermen will meet in closed session to discuss the three finalists, which include acting City Manager Jason Bajor. The other two finalists have not been identified.

"Hopefully, we'll put the city manager issue to rest to hire one way or another," 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith said.

Des Plaines has been without a city manager since last May. David Niemeyer, who was the city manager for four years, resigned after aldermen declined to negotiate a new contract with him.

Aldermen are expected to emerge from the closed session on Monday with the name of the next man -- all the finalists are men -- they want as city manager.

Details of a contract would be worked out at a later date.

Bajor was an assistant city manager in charge of human resources last year when he was called up to serve as acting city manager.

Des Plaines last year hired a corporate recruiting firm to find a new city manager after Niemeyer's departure.

Niemeyer, who is currently the Oak Brook village manager, was hired by Des Plaines in 2003 after his predecessor, Scott Miller, quit after less than a year on the job. He left after complaining that aldermen were micromanaging.

In 2004, voters overwhelmingly decided to let the city manager handle day-to-day business and hire key city personnel, rather than have elected officials do it.

A power rift appeared to grow between aldermen and Niemeyer in the wake of the change.