Carol Stream manager gets 4-year deal

Carol Stream Village Manager Joe Breinig took some heat from Village President Frank Saverino this past election season for not sharing the blame on poor flood response in 2010.

At the time, Saverino said he’d take a hard look when contracts for Breinig and other top village administrators who handled flooding issues came up for renewal.

“I don’t feel as comfortable with them,” Saverino said in a March endorsement interview with the Daily Herald. “I don’t like being thrown under the bus. I don’t mind sharing the blame. You take the blame when you make mistakes.”

But Saverino now says he and Breinig have resolved any holdover issues from the flood, and he is happy with Breinig’s job performance. On Monday, village trustees voted 5-0 to approve a new four-year employment agreement with Breinig, who has been village manager since 2002.

“We sat down and talked, and basically the situation with the flood is all behind us and everything is good,” Saverino said. “He’s done a wonderful job.”

Village residents criticized officials following the July 2010 floods that left about 50 houses damaged in the older section of town. Saverino said both he and Breinig learned lessons after the flood: that he was probably at fault for expecting more and not getting it; and Breinig learned the importance of going to the county for flood relief funds, but that “you can’t wait for them.”

Last September, the county board allocated $5 million for a flood mitigation project at Armstrong Park. On Monday, the village board signed onto an intergovernmental agreement for the project, which includes installation of water reservoirs and a pumping station. The county and park district boards are set to consider the agreement next week.

Breinig hasn’t responded publicly to Saverino’s original criticisms, but said Tuesday he loves working for the village, where he grew up and has lived most of his life.

Under his new contract, Breinig won’t take a salary increase for the first year, but is eligible for pay bumps after that, including performance-based increases after evaluation by the village president and board.

Breinig’s salary, $173,097.28, has remained unchanged since 2008. He said he didn’t want to take an increase this year because of the economy.

“We’re asking employees to do more with less,” Breinig said. “I feel it’s important that I lead by example.”

Breinig also can have use of a village vehicle, but has opted to accept a $400 per month car allowance instead.

The contract went into effect retroactive to May 1, and expires April 30, 2015.