LITH Managers Pushed for Former Village Manager Gerald Sagona to be Let Go: Letter

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL - Managers with the village of Lake in the Hills pushed for the ousting of former longtime village manager Gerald Sagona, stating the workplace culture under his leadership was one of “fear, intimidation and hostility.”

A letter obtained by the Northwest Herald through an open records request shed some light on the departure of Sagona who resigned after nearly 20 years with the village in August 2016. Prior to resigning, he was placed on administrative leave on July 26.

A day before that, a group of employees with the village, who simply identified themselves in the letter as management staff, asked village board president Paul Mulcahy to address ongoing issues with Sagona, which they believed could only be handled by firing the longtime village manager, according to the Northwest Herald.

“We can no longer ignore the risk of harm his unwanted conduct and unpredictable behavior has upon our mental and physical health; each of us reports experiencing undue stress and anxiety working under his direction,” the letter states. “We personally find his conduct abhorrent, undignified, embarrassing and degrading.”

The letter goes on to state efforts made by the village in the past to rectify Sagona's behavior and treatment of staffers had been unsuccessful.

In response to the letter, Sagona pointed to his list of accomplishments and performance evaluations, where he was always judged as "superior or commendable," as proof to his success, the Northwest Herald reports.

“My record of accomplishments, and my commitment as a public servant to address issues and demand accountability, clearly outweighs any criticism, slanderous comments, or unfounded allegations levied against me by some disgruntled employees,” Sagona said in the statement.

Upon his resignation in August, Sagona told the Northwest Herald his job had been rewarding but also was "very stressful." At the time, Sagona was making $160,000 per year. His resignation, he said, would allow him to focus on his health and give him the "time necessary to achieve my personal professional goals."

"The Village of Lake in the Hills, and the many friendships I have made, will always be near and dear to my heart," he said.

Despite complaints from village staff, village officials still touted Sagona's many accomplishments over the years, which included developing Lake in the Hills first comprehensive capital improvements plan and obtaining land for Sunset Park, Mulcahy told the Northwest Herald.

“He’s probably one of the best – he did a lot for the village,” village trustee Ray Bogdanowski told the Northwest Herald. “But the dealing with people aspect – there was a weakness there.”

Sagona was hired in October 2016 as the vice president of national business development for the Rockford Area Economic Development. There he managers business attraction outreach efforts and area marketing projects.