Former North Barrington mayor decries administrator's ouster
Former North Barrington Village President Albert Pino railed Wednesday night against the current administration for its handling of the dismissal of Kathy Nelander, who served as the village's administrator and clerk for many years.
Village President Eleanor Sweet McDonnell announced Monday that Nelander had been let go and that the village had hired Shannon Andrews to serve in a temporary capacity.
Pino said Nelander was abruptly and rudely shown the door.
"Nelander was terminated - (and) that is your right - but I have to say the manner in which she was terminated was poor," Pino said at Wednesday night's village board meeting.
Sweet McDonnell said Pino's characterization of Nelander's dismissal was inaccurate. Sweet McDonnell said she and village attorney Bryan Winter met with Nelander on Monday, told her what was happening and asked her to collect her personal belongings.
"I have been involved in executive hiring for 25 years, and what happened in this village was very standard," Sweet McDonnell said.
The village board on Wednesday night unanimously approved Sweet McDonnell's decision to hire Andrews.
Sweet McDonnell said Andrews was going to start work Thursday.
"She's coming in temporarily as a bridge, to help us to serve our residents," Sweet McDonnell said, adding that Andrews has a strong professional background. "Also I envisioned her as being a mini-consultant in terms of teaching me ways that we can better serve our residents."
Sweet McConnell said the village used Northbrook-based GovTempUSA, which provides interim staffing for municipal administrative jobs, to find Andrews. Sweet McConnell said she and Trustee Patricia Kalinowski met with Andrews and other candidates before Andrews was selected.