Pingree Grove hires communications administrator

Pingree Grove's new office and communications administrator starts Monday, about a month after the village's rocky parting with her predecessor.

New hire Dawn R. Grivetti, who worked as office manager for the village of Hinckley, said she plans to seek input from the village board, village staff members and residents to develop and meet expectations for her role. She also plans to improve the village's website, she said.

"I wanted an opportunity to learn a different part of local government and an opportunity to move up," said Grivetti, of Hinckley, whose yearly salary will be $50,000. Grivetti said she took care of most of the finances in Hinckley, which has an appointed, part-time treasurer.

Grivetti said this summer she obtained a certificate in public management from Northern Illinois University and is working toward earning a master's degree in public administration.

The village received six resumes for the position, including one from a candidate who had already been interviewed by the village board in July. That candidate was not Grivetti, who was interviewed Aug. 27, village officials said.

Former communications manager Paula Eaton signed a separation agreement with the village in mid-August, a few weeks after she fought hard to keep from getting fired.

According to the agreement, which the Daily Herald obtained under a Freedom of Information Act request, Eaton will be paid her accrued time off, will remain on the village's payroll through Oct. 16 and will receive medical insurance coverage for her and her husband through Dec. 31. All that amounts to an expense of approximately $18,150 for the village, Finance Director Tom Walter said.

Eaton and the village agreed not to sue each other. Eaton, whose salary was $50,000, also agreed to keep confidential for four years information obtained on the job.