Board opts against hiring interim administrator

An interim administrator will not be hired at this time to replace Village Administrator Austin Edmondson, who resigned late last month.

During a special Sept. 2 meeting, Village Board trustees voted unanimously for Mayor Hap Gilbert, Village Clerk Kathy Mizer and Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart to temporarily undertake the duties of the administrator. The vote followed a presentation by Mayor Hap Gilbert, who listed the advantages and disadvantages of the arrangement and assured trustees that the same setup worked well during a six-month hiatus prior to Edmondson’s arrival to take up the post.

Trustee Larry Reed asked Village Attorney Darrell Woolums if staff could function legally in the absence of an administrator to which Woolums replied that there “...are no positive duties the administrator has to do by statute.”

The final and major portion of the hour-long meeting turned to a discussion of the search mode for a new administrator. Gilbert provided trustees with a packet listing available options, but trustee Bob Rasho indicated it was important to preface the search mode with a vision and a strategic plan for the Village in addition to a set of goals. “We will not serve the Village well if we go this route and try to hire an administrator,” Rasho said.

A discussion ensued, with trustees Jeff Allsup and Steve Hubbard taking opposing views about the importance of a strategic plan in place before selection of a new administrator. Said Allsup: “We don’t know what type of person we want if we don’t know what we want them to do.”

In the end, it was agreed that Gilbert would check on the availability and costs of contracting with Brad Townsend, who helped with an Illinois Municipal Assistance Program (IMAP) study for Forsyth, in assisting the Board as it embarks upon setting priorities before conducting a search for a new Village administrator. Earlier this year, trustees commissioned an independent review of the Village’s governance from IMAP with Townsend.

IMAP reviewed the Village’s existing policies, plans and procedures and suggested that Forsyth conduct a strategic plan trustees can use with consistency in dealing with issues that affect the overall good of the community.

On Sept. 8, Bob Rasho was the sole dissenter when the Board approved to compensate Village Clerk Kathy Mizer and Village Treasurer Rhonda Stewart each $500 monthly and Administrative Assistant Kim Stahulak $250 monthly during an unspecified period before a new Village administrator is hired.

The next Board discussion on the search for a new administrator is on the agenda for their Sept. 21 meeting.