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Community Corner

DeGrave - No answers, so....

...why not just speculate some more?

Based on some of the information available on the Village's website and some information released via public records request, I'm gonna say this is the most likely scenario:

On February 17th, during the regular Village Board meeting, the board goes into a closed session to discuss issues related to "salaried personnel".  The board reconvenes to open session at 9:18 PM.

My take is that this meeting was in reference to Mr. DeGrave and that, in this meeting, it was decided to ask for his resignation.   I believe that this was put to him on Friday, February 20th.   I believe he refused.

On Tuesday the 25th the Village Attorney sent an email to the board members and Village President, CC'd to an outside attorney who specializes in employment issues, asking them to keep open the evening of 2/26 for a potential Special Village Board meeting with a closed session.  Instructions were also given to not discuss anything in these meetings with anyone except the above mentioned labor counsel.

Due to multiple scheduling conflicts, the meeting was not held until Sunday, 3/2.   This is the closed meeting at which  Mr. DeGrave resigned in return for the generous severance package.

It's my opinion that the reason for the overly generous offer and the involvement of the outside labor counsel was due to Mr. DeGrave's reluctance to resign and the board's reluctance to fire him.   I think it was made clear to him at that meeting that, one way or the other, he was done and that it would be in his best interest to accept the terms of the resignation agreement.

I believe the desire to have Mr. DeGrave removed from the position had nothing to do with job performance, but rather with one or more personality conflicts which created a situation felt to be detrimental to the workplace environment.  I believe that, possibly, there was a confrontation (verbal) of some sort that necessitated his removal ASAP, prior to the upcoming election.  I feel that the specter of a firing and a possible airing in public of details related to it was something that those up for re-election felt was necessary to avoid - even if it meant sweetening the deal in order to have the severance proceed in the form of a resignation with assurances of no public discussion.

Again, this is purely speculation based on information provided on WFB's website and via open records requests.   I have no special insight, no inside information and am only posing this as a plausible option to possibly fill the void left by TPTB in response to repeated requests for an explanation made by several Village residents.

Your mileage may vary.

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