Princeton council reverses course after closed-session review, affirms city manager and pledges better communication

The Princeton City Council on Monday held a special meeting called to discuss the performance of City Manager Teresa Whitnauer and — after a closed session — announced it would continue her employment and work to improve council-staff communication.

The decision followed more than two hours of public comment at the special meeting, where current and former city employees, residents and local officials urged the council to follow formal review procedures and to consider the manager’s record. “If all my standing up here does is paint a target on my back, then so be it,” said Matthew Miller, the city’s superintendent of fleet maintenance, adding he would speak out for employees he said support Whitnauer’s leadership.

Supporters told the council the city has made measurable fiscal and infrastructure progress under Whitnauer’s tenure. “Since Teresa took on the role in 2019, Princeton has experienced consistent forward momentum,” Victoria Gibson, the city’s tourism director, told the council, referencing agenda item 5, listed as “termination of further employment” on the meeting agenda.

Why it matters: The episode drew a large public turnout and raised questions about transparency and personnel processes at city hall. Commenters said the notice and timing of the special session undermined employee morale and public trust. Several speakers credited Whitnauer with reductions in city debt, major infrastructure projects and staff morale, and asked the council to follow a formal evaluation process rather than a sudden removal.

At the meeting’s open-session close, Mayor Ray Mabry apologized publicly for the way the special session had been handled and said the council and Whitnauer had reached an agreement to move forward. “My full confidence is in moving forward with Teresa Whitnauer as our city manager,” he said, adding that Whitnauer would continue to provide the council with regular reports and that the council would work to improve communications.

Council members did not record a formal vote to terminate Whitnauer; the meeting minutes show the council convened into executive session under an Illinois statute to discuss personnel matters, then returned to open session and announced the agreement. The roll call to enter executive session recorded ayes from Councilmember Newman, Councilmember Bill Mann, Councilmember McCall, Miss Grant (Keith), and Mayor Mabry. The council later moved to adjourn the special meeting; the motion carried and the council set its next regular meeting for April 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

During public comment, employees and residents pressed the council for clarity on process and long-term vision. “If we’re here to remove her, what’s the vision for Princeton moving forward?” asked resident and business owner Dave Shouse, highlighting concerns about interim reporting lines and continuity if a manager were removed.

Several speakers recounted Whitnauer’s record and described direct impacts on operations. Michael Ziering, the city’s planning and zoning staff member, noted projects such as the depot parking lot renovation and attracting new retailers, and said Whitnauer’s leadership had boosted workplace culture. Jackie Davis, a longtime resident, cited a debt reduction claim repeated by multiple commenters and urged the council to follow open meetings best practices for personnel matters.

After the closed session discussion, the council described the outcome as a path forward rather than a finalized disciplinary action. Council statements said members would receive clearer, more frequent updates from Whitnauer and that the mayor and council would make an effort to meet and consult more often with department heads. Several council members apologized to Whitnauer and to the public for the way the special meeting was convened.

Whitnauer, speaking after the meeting, said she felt relief and expressed appreciation for the public and staff support. “It’s overwhelming to see the support,” she said, describing how the response underscored the relationships she said she’s built with employees and the community.

The council concluded the special meeting by adjourning and setting the next regular council meeting for April 21, 2025, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The council also noted it would continue weekly tactical meetings that include the mayor and key staff and expected more frequent communications from Whitnauer to the full council.

Votes at a glance: The transcript shows the council voted unanimously to go into executive session to discuss personnel (aye votes recorded for Newman, Bill Mann, McCall, Miss Grant/Keith and Mayor Mabry). A later motion to adjourn and reconvene on April 21, 2025, carried; the transcript records multiple members voting aye when the motion was called.