Lindenhurst looks to Grayslake for top administrator

Grayslake's administrative loss will be Lindenhurst's gain.

Matthew Formica, 32, was officially hired Monday night as Lindenhurst's village administrator. He's been Grayslake's assistant village manager for the past eight years.

Formica's hiring means Lindenhurst Police Chief Jack McKeever can return to concentrating on one job. McKeever's been pulling double duty as village administrator since Jim Stevens retired from the post after 23 years in May.

Expanding Lindenhurst's tax base will be among the goals Formica said he'll have when he steps into the village administrator job Sept. 15.

"I'd say generally implementing the Village Green project up there and other development projects to ease the tax burden on the homeowner," said Formica, who's been a part-time firefighter/emergency medical technician for the Grayslake Fire Protection District for about 14 years.

Village Green is an upscale retail proposal for more than 200 acres along Route 45 north of Grand Avenue.

Formica said other initiatives he'd like to pursue include making Lindenhurst's Web site more user-friendly and seeking technology for village hall that would increase employee efficiency.

Lindenhurst paid $15,000 to Lake Bluff-based Paul A. Reaume Group to advertise the administrator opening, solicit resumes, screen applicants, obtain referrals and present the candidates to elected village board members.

Formica, who holds a master of public administration degree from Northern Illinois University, bested more than 50 applicants.