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West Chicago mayor’s package advances after heated debate over corporate counsel and Gutman settlement
Summary
After tense debate over legal appointments and a settlement with Michael Gutman, the West Chicago City Council approved an interim corporate counsel and adopted a contract arrangement for Gutman that substitutes a $60,000 payment for accrued leave; the mayor warned he would remove the sitting corporate counsel if the council stalled the package.
Mayor Daniel Bovee brought a multi-part package to the City Council that included an employment agreement with Michael Gutman, appointments for senior city roles and a restructured approach to legal services. After extended discussion and public comment, the council confirmed an interim corporate counsel and approved the Gutman agreement.
The meeting opened with public comments, including Louise Handel, who urged caution on an unrelated proposed change from a grocery tax to a retail tax and asked the council for “an abundance of data” before making changes. Kurt Jaros then criticized recent downtown spending and explicitly objected to the proposed settlement with Gutman, calling it politically advantageous.
On the Gutman contract, the mayor explained the payout structure: rather than cashing out roughly $75,000 in accrued sick leave, the offer provides a $60,000 payment and allows Mr. Gutman to remain available remotely…
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