Deetjen Job Hunting in Massachusetts?

Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deetjen is on a short list of candidates for a town administrator’s position in Yarmouth, Mass., according to an article dated Jan. 14 in the Cape Cod Times.

Deetjen has served as Oak Lawn’s village manager since 2007.

The Cape Cod Times reports that Deetjen is among four finalists on list narrowed down from 60 contenders.

Yarmouth is a New England town in Barnstable County, Mass., near such well-known communities as Hyannisport, where the Kennedys lived, and Martha’s Vineyard, a retreat for U.S. presidents and celebrities.

The town council is set to conduct interviews with the four finalists on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, according to Erik Tolley, the town’s board chairman, the newspaper reported.

Yarmouth selectmen (trustees) are expected to make their final decision at the conclusion of the interviews and contract negotiations could start on Jan. 27.

Deetjen could not be reached for comment. Village offices were closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Trustee Bob Streit (3rd District) did confirm that he had spoken to Deetjen about the possibility of him leaving Oak Lawn.

“He told me his commitment is to Oak Lawn,” Streit said. “His objective is to stay here.”

One reason Deetjen may consider leaving the village, however, is the current movement to eliminate the village manager’s position by a in the upcoming April election.

Both Mayor Dave Heilmann and Trustee Carol Quinlan (5th District) are on record supporting the return of Oak Lawn to a strong mayor/council form of government, in which an elected mayor makes the policy and legislative decisions.

Allegations of forged signatures may derail the referendum question. A hearing is scheduled Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court. Streit and Trustee Tom Duhig (2nd District) have filed an to the referendum petition based on alleged fraudulent signatures to get the question onto the ballot.

“(Deetjen) has done an outstanding job in Oak Lawn. I’d hate to lose him,” Streit told Patch. “Larry has worked extensively and hard to bring grant money to the community and to open communications with other elected officials and government bodies, and to improve our water system.

"I’ve worked with six village managers and he’s by far the most professional manager we’ve had.”