Joliet Loses Corporation Counsel To Naperville: Patch Exclusive

JOLIET, IL — A key member of the former Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk's administration, Corporation Counsel Sabrina Spano, will not be staying to work for new Mayor Terry D'Arcy and interim city manager Rod Tonelli, Joliet Patch has learned.

On Tuesday afternoon, Joliet Patch spoke with Naperville officials confirming that Spano has been hired as a deputy city attorney. She will start her new job for Naperville on July 24.

Naperville employs about a half dozen full-time attorneys, the city's spokeswoman said.

Details on Spano's new salary were Naperville were not immediately available, according to Naperville director of communications Linda LaCloche. Spano was not available for comment Tuesday; employees in Joliet's Legal Department informed Joliet Patch's editor that Spano is on vacation for the next week and a half.

In a statement provided to Joliet Patch, Tonelli said that, "Ms. Spano notified the city she has accepted a new position and will be leaving her employment with the City of Joliet. The City appreciates the time and service she gave to us and we wish her the best in her new endeavor. We will work with Ms. Spano on a smooth transition and we will be assessing the best options for the position after her departure."

Spano has worked for the ciity of Joliet's legal department the past five years. She has served corporation counsel for Joliet the past three years after previously going to work for Joliet in 2018. She was hired in the newly created position of assistant corporation counsel.

Spano was hired when Marty Shanahan served as corporation counsel, Shanahan was later demoted from interim city manager back to corporation counsel, and then he was fired in 2019 by interim city manager Steve Jones as the city's corporation counsel.

In 2020, Shanahan reached a $200,000 settlement paid out by the taxpayers of Joliet, to resolve his wrongful termination lawsuit against Joliet and Jones.

In April, D'Arcy crushed O'Dekirk in the non-partisan municipal mayor's race, bringing an end to O'Dekirk's tenure as Joliet mayor after eight years in office.

Since D'Arcy took office, Spano becomes the first noteworthy city official or department head to leave, aside from City Manager Jim Capparelli, who submitted his resignation earlier this month after the City Council rejected his proposal to remain on the job for several more months until a permanent successor could be chosen.