Libertyville poised to hire Cary's village administrator
The man tapped to be Libertyville's new village administrator has 20 years of municipal government experience, including the last five at the helm of similar-sized community.
Christopher Clark, village administrator since 2011 in Cary, likely will be hired to replace Kevin Bowens who has held the position in Libertyville the past 25 years and is retiring Dec. 23.
Longevity is a trademark in Libertyville, as Clark would become only the third village administrator in 51 years when he starts Dec. 19.
Mayor Terry Weppler announced the pick Tuesday during a brief special meeting called for that purpose. The village board will vote on the employment agreement Nov. 22.
In advance of that, a required posting shows Clark's base salary would be $170,000 compared with $223,250 for Bowens.
Fifty-four people applied for the nationally advertised position. Eleven were interviewed by a three-member team, including Weppler, Trustee Donna Johnson and Police Chief Clint Herdegen, that narrowed it to four finalists interviewed by the full village board.
Clark also has worked in administrative capacities in Grayslake and Lake Forest, and he had been assistant village manager in Glenview, where he lives, before taking the position in Cary. That village has been working extensively on development opportunities at its Metra commuter station, along Route 14, in the downtown area and elsewhere.
Several projects in Cary have been completed, are being pursued or are in the works. The recently announced expansion of Sage Products, for example, will add 300 jobs, and the $3.5 million replacement of the Metra station is expected to start next year.
"There were some other great candidates," Weppler said. "He's done a lot to improve Cary. He's really done a good job there."
Weppler said Clark's team leadership style was a good fit for Libertyville. Clark noted Libertyville's "solid leadership" as an asset.
"I just see so much potential and so much success already," he said Wednesday. "It's a great testament to how well the community supports professional leadership and how successful Libertyville is."
Clark said he wants to complete a strategic plan process for Libertyville and build on economic development opportunities, such as the massive former Motorola facility that has been renovated as Innovation Park Lake County.
With public works and finance director, the village administrator will be the third major administrative position to turn over within the past year. Weppler noted all those openings were a result of retirement, which is a testament to Libertyville's desirability.
Trustee Rich Moras said the administrator sets the tone for the community.
"I consider selecting a new village administrator as the most important thing I've done (in eight years) as a trustee," he said.