SYCAMORE | Sycamore City Manager Bill Nicklas spoke on the recent controversy concerning an employment agreement for city manager position during the April 4 city council meeting.

The ordinance included a clause designed to protect and guarantee the pension of the City Manager. Nicklas has held the position since October 1998.

“Although unintended, the uncertainty surrounding this matter has led to considerable speculation in the past two weeks as to whether Bill Nicklas is getting some kind of cozy deal,” Nicklas said.

Nicklas said the provision was intended to protect pensionable income already earned, but the provision was not properly explained, causing the controversy.

Nicklas said the controversy has drawn an unflattering caricature of the work he has done in the role of City Manager. In light of this, Nicklas has withdrawn his interest in an employment contract.

“To remove any taint from my work and from our organization, I have withdrawn my interest in an employment contract under any terms,” Nicklas said.

Mayor Ken Mundy said he supported the employment contract because Nicklas is the chief administrative official for the city and the city has been well served with Nicklas filling that role.

“The intention was as an investment on a person’s career,” Mundy said. “It was not handled well, and that was my fault, also.”

Mundy said Nicklas’ situation may have also been affected by a House Bill, HB0146, that may have capped senior officials in regard to their pensions. According to Medill Reports Chicago of Northwestern University, the bill would cap pensions for all state employees hired before January 1 of this year. There are already pension caps in place for recently hired state employees. This bill would extend those caps to existing employees.

The bill in question was referred to the Rules Committee in March. Mundy said the bill is unlikely to be voted on at the upcoming session.

Nicklas said he would remain an “at will” employee at the Council’s discretion.