Bloomingdale hires one of its own as village administrator

A Bloomingdale resident has been tapped to become the town's next village administrator.

Village board members agreed on Monday night to appointment Pietro Scalera to Bloomingdale's top administrative post.

Scalera, who currently serves as the village manager for Riverside, is expected to start with Bloomingdale in October. He replaces former village administrator Martin Bourke, who parted ways with Bloomingdale in May.

"I would like to thank you for the vote of confidence this evening," Scalera said to board members after the vote. "Bloomingdale has a fantastic team of leaders. I look forward to working with each of you."

As a Bloomingdale resident, Scalera, 42, said he's looking forward to working for the village where he lives.

"It will be exciting to be able to be a part of the decision-making process on items that will affect the community ... and hopefully have a positive impact," Scalera said.

Scalera has been Riverside's village manager since October 2009, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before that, he served as Glencoe's assistant village manager from January 2006 to October 2009.

After graduating from DePaul University, Scalera spent a little more than three years working as an aldermanic aide for Chicago. He became the assistant to the public works director in Glencoe in April 1999. He then served as assistant to the village manager in Glencoe between January 2001 to December 2005.

Scalera, who has a master's degree in public administration, said part of the reason he was attracted to the Bloomingdale job is because he has lived in the community for a decade.

"It's not often that you have an opportunity to work for the community that you are a resident of," he said.

Village President Franco Coladipietro said about 60 people applied for the position. Scalera was chosen after three rounds of interviews.

What set Scalera apart from the other applicants was his experience and understanding of the issues facing Bloomingdale, Coladipietro said.

"He's a very detail-oriented guy," Coladipietro said. "I really love his temperament and the approach that he takes."

With Bloomingdale hoping to spark redevelopment along Lake Street and lure more stores to Stratford Square Mall, Coladipietro said Scalera will be expected to lead the village on those and other issues.

"Pete needs to be that leader and then be out in the community helping us execute on those really major issues," Coladipietro said.

Scalera won't start his new job until after the termination conditions of his agreement with Riverside have been satisfied. He said his first day with Bloomingdale will probably be Oct. 20.

Coladipietro said Bloomingdale is expected to pay Scalera $135,000 a year. However, that salary amount hasn't been finalized, he said.