Hank Curcio retires as Schaumburg trustee

After more than 10 years on the Schaumburg village board, Hank Curcio retired Tuesday, citing his age of almost 80 years.

Village President Al Larson nominated Tom Dailly, who himself served almost 20 years on the board, to fill the vacancy until the next municipal election in the spring of 2015. The appointment will be on the board's agenda at the next meeting, Aug. 27.

The audience applauded Curcio's work for the village Tuesday after Larson read his retirement letter and noted his “fantastic service.”

After the meeting Larson said Curcio “has been a rock for us,” also mentioning the 13 years the civil engineer served as a member and chairman of the Olde Schaumburg Center Commission before joining the village board.

Curcio volunteered for village government after working 40 years for NiGas. He also is in the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame for his 19 years as manager of the Schaumburg Kings Hockey Organization and coached in the Hoffman Estates Baseball Association for 12 years.

Larson said Dailly's experience on the board made him the obvious choice for the appointment.

“He knows the ins and outs of policy as far as the board is concerned,” Larson said. “He has worked with a number of trustees to bring Schaumburg to what it is today.”

When Dailly decided not to seek re-election in 2009, he said he needed a break but did not rule out returning to the board. Dailly, who has worked in information technology for nonprofits, said he chaired the board's finance committee for more than 10 years and has followed the village's finances during time off the board.

“The budget process is the most important thing in the village,” he said. “When you see where the money comes from and where it's going, you get a real keen look at what's going on in the village.”

Dailly said continuity is particularly important now because village government is in transition. The village is seeking a new police chief and director of public works.

In addition, Village Manager Ken Fritz will retire at the end of the month. Dailly praised the board's decision to hire Brian Townsend to replace Fritz. Townsend was Schaumburg's assistant village manager for seven years, then St. Charles administrator for eight.