Grace Kirchner, Leader Correspondent
Former Clintonville City Administrator Lisa (Kuss) Kotter has accepted a similar position in Geneseo, Illinois.
Kotter said she will move to Geneseo and begin her duties in mid-February. Geneseo, a city with a population of about 6,600, is in McHenry County.
Interim City Administrator Chuck Kell, meanwhile, has completed a job description for Kotter’s successor in Clintonville. The council has approved the description, which calls for a salary range of $73,000 to $80,000.
Kell said the proposed salary is a little lower than for administrators in some communities similar in size to Clintonville, but it would be appropriate for a less experienced administrator.
Kotter earned $80,200 annually as Clintonville’s administrator. She will make $90,000 in Geneseo.
Kotter resigned in September after two suspensions and months of controversy. Her resignation took effect just eight days after her 17-year anniversary as the city administrator.
After weeks of negotiations, the city agreed to pay Kotter through May 15, 2015, and Kotter agreed not to file any complaints against the city.
Her departure, according to a joint news release issued by Kotter and the city, was not based on any misconduct but rather on “philosophical and stylistic differences.”
Kotter was initially suspended May 13 by the Common Council after members raised undisclosed allegations against her.
The council voted 6-4 on May 27 to extend Kotter’s suspension and refer allegations of misconduct to the city’s labor attorney. Mayor Judith Magee vetoed that vote June 2, and Kotter returned to work.
On June 10, the council, with a 6-4 vote, failed to override Magee’s veto, falling one vote short of the required supermajority. Many city residents spoke in support of Kotter and Magee at the June meeting, which had to be moved from City Hall to the Community Center because of the overflow crowd.
The council then voted 7-3 in July to indefinitely place Kotter on administrative leave while continuing its investigation.
Although the council never discussed its concerns about Kotter in open session, area media reported the allegations involved misuse of city funds for family vacations while on work trips. Kotter said she did nothing wrong.
The controversy, at least in part, prompted resident William VanDaalwyk to launch a successful recall effort against District 4 Alderman Greg Rose.