Mount Prospect approves separation pact with longtime administrator Strahl
Mount Prospect officially parted ways Tuesday with longtime assistant village manager David Strahl, as village trustees approved a separation agreement that will pay him nearly $38,000 in remaining salary as well as the equivalent of 97 sick, vacation and personal days.
The separation agreement, which ends Strahl's 22-year career with the village, also forgives a personal loan/cash advance of $2,565 provided to Strahl and reimburses him $2,500 for costs associated with an outplacement assistance program.
Village trustees approved the deal without comment at Tuesday's village board meeting. After the meeting, Village Manager Michael Cassady offered brief remarks about Strahl, stating, "He was a great employee for 22 years."
The 10-page agreement outlines the terms of Strahl's departure, which was put into motion April 8 when he unexpectedly took leave. As part of the deal, the village agreed to revise its personnel records to reflect it has accepted Strahl's voluntary resignation as of that date.
"(A)ll references to termination in employee's personnel file documents will be revised accordingly," the agreement states. "It is the hope of the village that this will assist employee in his search for alternate employment."
The agreement also states that the village will provide letters of reference from Mayor Arlene Juracek and Cassady to assist Strahl in finding employment.
"He was well-respected by all who came into contact with him as part of his duties with the village including the employees representing the various unions in the village," Juracek's letter reads.
Cassady's letter states Strahl "clearly has the skills and knowledge to be a Village/City Manager or perform in a similar level position in any other organization."
"I wholeheartedly endorse Dave in any position that he undertakes for he is a true professional that exhibits all the necessary skills to be successful in any organization he might be associated with," Cassady's letter adds.
The agreement also includes a statement indicating the separation is permanent and neither side has any interest in Strahl working for the village again. Strahl is the second longtime administrator to leave Mount Prospect in the last 15 months. In April 2015, village trustees approved a separation agreement with former village manager Michael Janonis, who had served as Mount Prospect's top administrator for the previous 24 years.