Evanston City Manager Julia Carroll will leave office Monday, more than a month before her previously stated resignation date, the city announced Friday afternoon. Assistant City Manager Rolanda Russell will serve as interim city manager until a replacement is found.
The decision, which was delivered to city council members in an executive session at about 1 a.m. Tuesday, is due to unspecified health reasons, said Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th).
Carroll’s initial decision to resign was unexpected, she said.
“I was surprised, but whenever anyone says they’re stepping down for reasons of health, you just wish them Godspeed,” Tisdahl said. “She did a good job of outreach to the community.”
Carroll, 55, announced her resignation in an April 28 letter to Mayor Lorraine Morton. In the letter Carroll, who has served since January 2005, said she would leave office June 27.
Instead, Russell, who has been Carroll’s assistant since 2006, will take over the duties of city manager Monday, according to a statement released by the city Friday afternoon. She has served in a similar interim position in Decatur, Ill.
Carroll will continue to be paid at the salary rate of her $180,000-plus position through her original June 27 resignation date, Tisdahl said.
