THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008
Caudill Change Rejected
By CRAIG ADAMS
Journal Reporter
With a 4-2 vote, Park Ridge City Council rejected an amendment to the separation agreement with former Police Chief Jeffery Caudill.
Caudill retired on Mar. 14 after 31 years with the department. In one of his last acts as City Manager, Tim Schuenke negotiated a deal with Caudill as directed in a closed session of the city council. The final agreement included a pay raise of 4% in recognition of Caudill's performance during fiscal year 2007-2008 plus an additional 4% in exchange for his voluntary separation. According to an earlier released memo from Schuenke, that second increase compensated for Caudill's waiver of various rights and for his acceptance of six months, rather than nine months, of separation pay.
The Park Ridge Police Pension Fund Board agreed to adjust Caudill's pension based on the first raise, but not the second. As Caudill was expecting an additional $4,054 in pension each year based on the second raise, City Manager pro tempore Juliana Maller presented an amendment to the agreement to the council on Monday, May 19. That amendment gave Caudill three additional months salary, $31,076, in lieu of the second 4% raise. Ald. Rich DiPietro (2nd) suggested sending the matter to the Finance and Budget Committee for further investigation and recommendation to the council. The aldermen agreed with that motion.
On June 2, the committee met to discuss the amendment. Members did not question the terms of the agreement, only if it should be done before or after the completion of the ongoing police audit by Ekl Williams.
Ald. Frank Wsol (7th) asked if the amendment protected the city against Caudill taking the pension board's decision to court and questioned if there was any harm waiting until that conclusion before signing the new agreement. City Attorney Everette "Buzz" Hill explained, "(if Caudill) decides if we're going to make him wait, he's going to seek his remedy in court. Even if we prevail, there's some harm there." Hill also clarified the amendment properly protected the city. "I think it does give us sufficient and absolute protection on a claim on the second 4%," he said. After discussion, Wsol stated, "I would prefer to wait until the final report comes through." Committee Chair DiPietro made a motion to accept the amendment but Ald. Thomas Carey (6th) sided with Wsol and voted it down 2-1. However, at the city council meeting, DiPietro presented the amendment as a minority report and received a second for the motion from Ald. David Schmidt (1st). DiPietro explained the desire of the committee to wait for the completion of the police audit. He pointed out the original agreement called for Caudill's full cooperation with the audit and that he did not agree with putting additional conditions on the amendment. "I'm confident in the integrity of Mr. Caudill," DiPietro said. "I would urge adoption of this settlement agreement and release of all claims."
Schmidt agreed with DiPietro. "We're trying to hold the other three month pay hostage to see if he will abide by his agreement to the contract," Schmidt said.
Carey responded, "I find that characterization demeaning." He added that the city was already making an unrequired adjustment in response to the pension board's denial of the raise. "I don't think we're holding anybody hostage."
Wsol reiterated the audit report is due during July. "I see no harm in waiting 60 days," he said.
When questioned, Hill responded that he has not heard from Caudill or his lawyers regarding a possible lawsuit. He added that nothing in the amendment would change if the council waited.
DiPietro and Schmidt voted in favor of the amendment with the other four voting against.