Geneva formalizes administrator, police chief appointments

The Geneva City Council unanimously, and without comment or questions, appointed a new police chief and a new city administrator Monday night.

The city announced last week the mayor's choices to replace administrator Mary McKittrick and Chief Steve Mexin, who are retiring.

Assistant city administrator Stephanie Dawkins will move up June 13. Cmdr. Eric Passarelli becomes chief May 9.

Passarelli has been commander of police services since 2008, according to a news release from the city. He joined the Geneva police in 1994. Before that, he worked for two years for the Kendall County sheriff's department. He was also a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection District. He lives in Yorkville.

He has a bachelor's degree from Columbia College, and graduated from Aurora University's Management Center and Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.

Passarelli is president of the Kane County Chief's Association.

Dawkins joined the city staff in 2008. Besides being assistant administrator, she directs administrative services, including being the chief negotiator for labor contracts.

In her 23 years of government work, she was an assistant city administrator in Merriam, Kansas; a human resources officer for Broward County in Florida; a human resources director in Brighton, Colorado; and, a human resources officer for Shawnee County, Kansas.

Dawkins has a law degree from Washburn University, and a master's degree from Appalachian State University. She lives in Geneva.