Shanahan Settlement Rejected After Dickinson Changes Vote

JOLIET, IL — Interim city manager Jim Hock drew up a proposed six-figure settlement offer to pay former Joliet corporation counsel Marty Shanahan nearly $123,000 to resolve Shanahan's wrongful termination case, but Councilwoman Bettye Gavin remarked that Shanahan and his lawyer will need to beat the city in court.

In Monday night's 4-3 vote, the City Council voted to reject the settlement proposal.

Those voting against the proposal were Gavin, Pat Mudron, Sherri Reardon and Don "Dick" Dickinson. The fifth member of the coalition, Mike Turk, was absent because he is recovering from the coronavirus, according to a local news outlet.

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk, Larry Hug, Jan Quillman and Terry Morris supported reaching a settlement to resolve Shanahan's legal dispute with the city, where he worked the past five years. The mayor did not vote on the issue. The mayor typically only votes in the case of a tie.

Hug was furious after the settlement proposal was defeated.

"We had five votes in execution session," Hug declared during Monday's regular meeting. "Somebody changed their vote in executive session, and I'd like an explanation."

Hug continued to step up his criticism.

"I really want an explanation. Councilman Dickinson, you were one of the yes's in the executive session. Why did we have Jim Hock bring this forward?"

Dickinson responded by saying, "I don't feel I need to give an explanation."

Later, Mayor O'Dekirk said the settlement was done in the interest of saving Joliet taxpayers unnecessary legal expenses, not to mention hundreds of hours that will be spent in courtrooms and in attorney conference rooms giving depositions from witnesses and city officials involved in the decision to fire Shanahan from City Hall back in May.

"We're going to get sued," O'Dekirk assured the Council. "This is an opportunity to avoid a lawsuit for a wrongful termination, but instead, we're going to rack up higher legal fees now and probably pay Mr. Shanahan more money now.

"Don't be fooling anybody that the no votes are looking out for the taxpayers of Joliet. They are not. The people who voted no to this aren't being fiscally responsible, just the opposite."

Monday night's vote means the city will need to hire outside legal counsel to defend the city once Shanahan and the Naperville law firm that he has retained files a wrongful termination suit against Joliet.

Shanahan was employed as the city's corporation counsel from 2015 until this May when Steve Jones, as interim city manager, chose to get rid of him.

Hock, who came out of retirement after Jones left in August, had urged the City Council to approve the Shanahan settlement.

Eventually, Gavin spoke up, saying she had no problem with how Monday night's vote went.

"Well, he's got to win his case .... He's got to win the case," Gavin told her colleagues.

Before the meeting ended, Hug offered more blistering comments of his colleagues who make up the Mudron 5.

"This is a very personal and vindictive vendetta you guys got against this man," Hug said. "What five of you have put Marty through is evil and unforgiveable.

"What Jim Hock came up with on a one-year settlement is really only twice as much as a standard severance package in a city or company, which is normally six months, because he's aware this is a case we're going to lose."