DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Outgoing Decatur City Manager Tim Gleason said the actions of one member of the Decatur City Council represented a breach of his employment agreement.
Gleason made the reference to Decatur City Council in his letter of resignation on Sept. 12. WAND News obtained the letter through a Freedom of Information Act request.
"Regrettably, ongoing actions by one council member have undermined the professional standards and mutual trust necessary to fulfil my role effectively," Gleason wrote.
Gleason further stated in the letter that he believed the actions "represent a breach of both the letter and intent of my employment agreement and have made continued service untenable."
In an interview with WAND News on Sept. 16, when his resignation was made public by the City of Decatur, Gleason said he expected to be in the role for at least two years. He returned to Decatur in March 2024 after previously serving as city manager from 2015 to 2018.
In that same interview, Gleason did not mention a suspected breach in his employment agreement. But Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe referenced “a toxic work environment caused by one councilman.” In an interview with WAND News on the same day, she clarified she was speaking about Councilmember David Horn.
Horn did not specifically address the allegations made by the mayor when contacted by WAND News.
“I have no response to the mayor calling me a toxic individual," Horn told WAND News. "I am committed to working collaboratively with the mayor and the council and city staff to make Decatur a better place."
It's not known what Horn did that prompted Gleason to resign. Neither has provided specifics.
When the city publicly announced Gleason's resignation, it also did not provide a reason for his resignation. A press release said Council "is aware of and respects the reasons for his departure as outlined in that letter."
WAND News has not reviewed Gleason's employment contract to examine what clause may have been breached. WAND News has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the City of Decatur to review the agreement.
Despite his early exit, Gleason said he believes he is leaving Decatur in a stronger position. “There’s a number of decisions that had to be made, corrections, and I think the foundational steps are in place so that whoever steps into this role is able to take that and build upon it,” Gleason said. “I’m very pleased and happy to have been able to serve alongside the men and women that work here at the city.”
Gleason's last day of work is Oct. 31. Council will appoint an interim city manager before eventually selecting a permanent successor.
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