Village Administrator Edmondson resigns

Village Administrator Austin Edmondson has submitted his resignation, with his last work day scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28.

“He resigned to pursue other employment opportunities,” said Mayor Hap Gilbert on Aug. 18 after Village Board trustees had entered into closed session the previous evening for the purpose of discussing his employment. Edmondson offered no comment on his resignation.

Gilbert said a special meeting with trustees could be called as early as the last full week in August to begin the search process for a replacement.

“I will be presenting different options to consider on how we’ll fill the position,” Gilbert said. Appointing an interim administrator and using national advertising are two possible options, he said.

“I think [the Village administrator] continues to be a very good position and one that should draw candidates from a broad area,” Gilbert commented. He added there is no self-imposed deadline among trustees to fill the position. Trustees had voted last October to increase Edmondson’s salary by two percent for a total annual salary of $78,132.74.

Edmondson, 57, arrived July 9, 2007, to take up his duties as Forsyth’s fourth Village administrator and fill the vacancy created with the early 2007 retirement of Village Administrator Cheryl Lehman, who had held the post for four years. Gilbert said no interim administrator was appointed during the six-month hiatus before Edmondson’s arrival and “I felt we did a good job of shepherding the Village through that period.”

Gilbert said he will miss Edmondson’s professionalism as well as his friendship. Said Gilbert: “He adapted to the community quickly, became attuned with residents and Village projects, introduced ‘green’ issues that were important and brought some new technology to the Village with computers, and new ball diamond lighting.”

“I wish him well on his new endeavors,” said Trustee Eric Morr in an e-mail update he sent to area residents after the meeting.

Revisions to Edmondson’s employment contract had been an agenda item for closed sessions held at the three previous Board meetings, but no action had been taken by Board members after those sessions. The closed sessions had followed a July 6 Board decision tabling the employment agreement.

A public farewell reception is not planned, per Edmondson’s request.