Politics & Government
Thanas Says No One Forced Him to Resign
The Joliet city manager, speaking publicly for the first time about his resignation, said the decision was his alone and he will help the council as they choose his successor.
Joliet City Manager Tom Thanas confirmed Monday that his decision to resign his position was voluntary and that he will remain on the job for 90 days in order to assist the council as they choose his successor.
Thanas' declaration was made during the Joliet City Council pre-council meeting in response to At-Large Councilman Jim McFarland's request that the audio tape of the closed council session at which Thanas resigned be made public.
With the exception of one email to WJOL-AM, Thanas has been silent on his resignation decision, which he apparently announced to the council May 21 following a heated discussion over information about the Electric Daisy Carnival that some council members thought Thanas should have provided to them.
Initially, several council members were not even certain Thanas had resigned and later questions about whether he'd been forced out began to surface.
"I am here to let everybody know that it was a voluntary resignation," Thanas said. "It was not something that the mayor and city council voted on in closed session, nor was it suggested that I resign. It was a decision I made.
"That resignation stands. We've discussed a 90-day transition period for the city council to start the search to look for a successor. I will continue working with the city council on that."
Thanas said he has told the mayor and council specific reasons for why he is leaving, but he did not disclose those reasons publicly Monday.
Thanas' relationship with some council members has become more fractious in recent months, and his May resignation was the second he tendered in as many months.
In March, he submitted a written resignation after council members suggested he did not disclose all of the details about the city's purchase of a building for the downtown transportation center, an allegation that he adamantly denied.
In that case, however, the council refused to accept his resignation and he agreed to withdraw it.
With the exception of one email to WJOL-AM, Thanas has been silent on his resignation decision, which he apparently announced to the council May 21 following a heated discussion over information about the Electric Daisy Carnival that some council members thought Thanas should have provided to them.
Initially, several council members were not even certain Thanas had resigned and later questions about whether he'd been forced out began to surface.
"I am here to let everybody know that it was a voluntary resignation," Thanas said. "It was not something that the mayor and city council voted on in closed session, nor was it suggested that I resign. It was a decision I made.
"That resignation stands. We've discussed a 90-day transition period for the city council to start the search to look for a successor. I will continue working with the city council on that."
Thanas said he has told the mayor and council specific reasons for why he is leaving, but he did not disclose those reasons publicly Monday.
Thanas' relationship with some council members has become more fractious in recent months, and his May resignation was the second he tendered in as many months.
In March, he submitted a written resignation after council members suggested he did not disclose all of the details about the city's purchase of a building for the downtown transportation center, an allegation that he adamantly denied.
In that case, however, the council refused to accept his resignation and he agreed to withdraw it.
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