Kudos for top administrator leaving Lake Zurich
Praise was heaped on outgoing Lake Zurich Village Manager Jason Slowinski at his final meeting.
Slowinski is leaving Lake Zurich to take over next month as city manager in similarly sized Golden, Colorado. He came to Lake Zurich from Des Plaines in May 2012.
Mayor Thomas Poynton and others praised Slowinski for his work during Monday's village board meeting. Poynton said there was "significant" turmoil among elected officials and a lack of direction when Slowinski became Lake Zurich's top administrator.
"After a tumultuous first year, with little to show in the way of success, he began to hit his stride in 2013," Poynton said of Slowinski. "Culture change was needed and culture change is what we got. He brought in some new people and he had a newly elected village board."
Poynton listed several of Slowinski's achievements in Lake Zurich. They include:
•Creating a six-point downtown redevelopment action plan.
•Negotiating a new refuse and recycling contract with fee reductions.
•Making unpopular decisions to cut some employees and services in an effort to conserve money and keep Lake Zurich in a position of financial sustainability.
•Boosting civic engagement with the Rock the Block festival and other events.
"You have left us in a good place," Poynton told Slowinski. "I think we are well positioned for future success."
Slowinski spoke after Poynton presented him with a proclamation thanking him for his service to Lake Zurich, a village paperweight and a "key" to the town.
"I just wanted to say thank you to the village board," Slowinski said. "Thank you very much. It's a pleasure working here. And thank you for the opportunity to serve Lake Zurich. It means a lot."
He replaced Bogdan "Bob" Vitas, who received an $85,000 cash payout after resigning as village administrator in November 2011. Slowinski's resignation as Lake Zurich village manager is effective Sept. 1.
Village board trustees also thanked Slowinski for his work and wished him and his family well in Golden.
"I would just echo the comments that have been made tonight about your contributions to the community," Trustee Jonathan Sprawka said. "Jason, your legacy will be felt by the residents of Lake Zurich. I know the leadership team - your guidance and coaching you provided to them - have positioned us very well for where we're headed in the future."
Also at Monday's meeting, Lake Zurich Police Chief Steven Husak was sworn in as interim village manager effective Sept. 1. Deputy Police Chief Kevin Finlon was sworn in to temporarily fill Husak's seat.
Slowinski said Human Resources Manager Douglas Gibson is soliciting proposals from search firms to seek a new village manager.
In Golden, Slowinski will replace Mike Bestor, who's retiring after 21 years with the city. Poynton noted Golden recruited Slowinski.