Bensenville Fires Village Manager, Picks Interim Leader

BENSENVILLE, IL – The Bensenville Village Board voted unanimously Tuesday to fire the village manager and name an interim replacement.

During a seven-minute meeting, the board gave no reason to end Evan Summers' employment after eight years.

The board voted unanimously to name Police Chief Dan Schulze to serve as the interim manager. He is expected to be in that role for several months, Village President Frank DeSimone said at the meeting.

The board's agenda included voting on a severance agreement with Summers, but trustees voted to remove the item. It is unclear whether the village is still negotiating a deal with Summers, which would likely include confidentiality and nondisparagement clauses.

"As many of you just heard, the Village Board has made the decision to part ways with the village manager, Evan Summers," DeSimone said. "We are grateful for his service to the village and its residents. We wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavor."

The six trustees stayed silent.

Last Wednesday, Summers was put on paid leave, according to the village.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained the memo from DeSimone that notified Summers about his leave and that the board would vote on his firing the following week. It noted a provision in Summers' contract that allowed the board to fire him with or without cause.

DeSimone gave no reason for the decision, but asked Summers to promptly return all village records and property in his possession.

A day earlier, relations between Summers and the board seemed good. At a meeting, the manager noted the board's incumbents were unopposed in the April 1 election.

"We look forward to another four years with you, so congratulations to the mayor, the clerk and the three trustees (running)," Summers said. "I think it's evidence that the voters think the village is on the right track and in good hands."

At Tuesday's meeting, resident Chris McCullough questioned ousting Summers. He said he disagreed with many of Summers' actions, but said they were done at the board's direction.

"Why is Mr. Summers being terminated? The village president and the board seemed to have an overwhelmingly positive relationship with Mr. Summers as recently as Nov. 19," McCullough said. "Mr. Summers was also given a raise every year by you."

He also suggested the now-retired DeSimone wanted to get more control over village government and a full-time salary.

Village officials did not respond to McCullough's statement.

Summers and DeSimone have not returned Patch's messages for comment.

DeSimone retired as a detective from the Schiller Park Police Department in the summer, but his name remains an option on the department's phone answering system.