Embattled Official? Clarendon Hills Deciding On Barr's Future

CLARENDON HILLS, IL — Clarendon Hills on Friday updated its meeting agenda for Monday with an issue that village officials have shrouded in secrecy — the village manager's future.

Manager Kevin Barr has been on "personal leave" from his job for at least two weeks. The Village Board held a more than two-hour closed meeting Wednesday, but declined to say if it was about Barr, who has been manager for the last seven years. A lawyer took part in the session.

The updated agenda for Monday's meeting includes a vote on an employment agreement with Barr, who has not returned a message for comment.

The title "employment agreement" implies that Barr may continue to work for the village. If the document is actually an agreement in which Barr agrees to resign, such a pact would be more accurately called a "separation" or "severance" agreement. In 2020, Burr Ridge approved such a deal with its village administrator.

Clarendon Hills' online agenda includes the backup materials for many of the issues that board members are set to vote on. The employment agreement is not among the documents.

After Wednesday's closed meeting, Patch asked the village's assistant manager, Zach Creer, how much "personal leave" employees get. He said they get three days a year, but he said Barr works under a contract, so his situation is different. He said he would email Barr's contract to Patch the next day. On Friday, he said he would provide the document through a public records request.

Over the last few months, the village has been embroiled in a controversy over whether the fire department should buy a new ladder truck for $1.4 million. It was originally budgeted for $1 million, but officials say the price rose in the last year.

Barr has suggested not buying a replacement ladder truck and instead entering an agreement with another town for use of its truck. Fire Chief Brian Leahy, local firefighters and many residents disagree with such an idea.

Signs supporting the purchase of a new ladder truck can be seen around town. And some fire department supporters have called for Barr's ouster.

Last month, Patch reported that Barr prohibited Leahy from speaking with the media about issues such as the ladder truck.

Since Barr went on leave, Creer, the assistant manager, has met with managers of Hinsdale and Oak Brook to discuss regional approaches to public safety and infrastructure. In his weekly report, he also said he met with fire department leaders about a variety of issues, including the ladder truck.

Barr was hired as Clarendon Hills manager in 2015. Before that, he was Schiller Park's village manager for 15 years.