Centralia Mayor Herb Williams says social media discussion on the possible termination of City Manager Lowell Crow is ‘blown out of proportion’.
While Williams would not discuss specifics because it is a personnel issue, he told WJBD-WSIQ News Thursday morning Crow’s job was not in jeopardy and the goal is to get everyone working together. He says the city will work better if they do so as a team and the discussion has been on how to get things done.
Williams blames ‘political play’ for the social media attention and calls it ‘unfortunate’.
Williams was appointed Mayor after the city council ruled Bryan Kuder who won the last Mayoral election was not a resident of the city. Kuder is challenging the city’s decision in an on-going lawsuit in Marion County Court. Kuder is running for Mayor again in the April election and will face off against Williams for the two-year unexpired term.
Kuder, on his Facebook page, said he was hearing rumors of a big shakeup at city hall and possible termination of the contract with the city manager. He’s questioning why the city council would be doing this less than 60 days before an election.
Kuder, in the post, is encouraging residents to contact their councilman and Williams. Kuder concludes by saying don’t make changes that’ll cost the already overburdened taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.
Kuder told WJBD-WSIQ News he doesn’t make a lot of Facebook posts but decided to make this post after those with knowledge of the situation told him what was going on.
WJBD-WSIQ News has learned a special closed-door meeting of the city council Wednesday night was at least in part to discuss the city manager. Another closed session for further discussion is expected on Monday night’s city council agenda. Under Illinois law, the council only has to indicate a closed session is to discuss personnel and do not need to ‘name’ the person under discussion.
Crow told WJBD-WSIQ News he does not wish to comment on the situation at the present time.
