Retired police chief to be new Barrington village manager

Recently retired Barrington Police Chief Jeff Lawler is expected to succeed Denise Pieroni as Barrington village manager on Thursday.

Barrington Village President Karen Darch confirmed Tuesday that Pieroni's contract had not been renewed.

Pieroni had been village manager for four years, following a period as acting village manager and before that, deputy village manager. She's worked for the village of Barrington more than 17 years.

Pieroni said that while she and the board largely shared a vision for the village, there were philosophical differences in how to achieve it. As a parting of the ways was envisioned, it was mutually felt that the end of her contract was the best time to implement it.

"I just love public service, and I'm looking forward to new challenges," Pieroni said. "I enjoyed the community and I think it's a great place. I wish them the best."

Pieroni's final day as manager was Monday, the last day of her contract.

At a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Lawler is expected to be appointed acting village manager, a job he held on a more temporary basis on a few previous occasions.

The appointment will come just two weeks after Lawler took early retirement as police chief to help reduce staff on the Barrington Police Department as Inverness ended its contract for services on May 1.

Darch said the early-retirement offer was made to Lawler well before there was any thought of moving him into the village manager role.

Lawler had been chief for more than a decade. He joined the department in 1975.

"He was always a well-respected manager," Darch said.

Former Deputy Police Chief Jerry Libit is now acting chief of the police department.