Complaint Policy In Clarendon Hills May Change

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The Clarendon Hills Village Board is poised to change the way it handles complaints against the village manager.

On Monday, the board plans to vote on a proposed policy on complaints against the manager, which the village called "uniquely difficult" to address through the normal process.

Under the proposal, employees could file complaints against the manager through the assistant village manager, finance director or police chief. Who the employee files with depends on the nature of the complaints, parties to the complaints and employees' comfort level, the proposed policy states.

Each of the named officials would be required to maintain confidentiality and contact the village attorney to establish a complaint review process.

Earlier this year, at least one complaint was filed against Village Manager Kevin Barr. The village chose to keep the grievance secret, citing exceptions under the state's open records law.

In January, the village falsely said Barr was on personal leave, doing work from home. However, public records showed that Barr was placed on administrative leave and disconnected from the village's computer network.

The complaint may have been about jokes that Barr made about the fire chief's age at a public meeting. Barr's leave began days later.

After Barr returned from administrative leave, the board voted for a new contract with him, making it easier to fire him. The contract notes that jokes about co-workers' protected characteristics such as age, race, nationality and gender would be reasons for termination.

Village President Len Austin has not returned Patch's numerous calls about the village's falsehood on Barr's situation.