Carpentersville manager set to begin Sept. 21

Carpentersville Village President Ed Ritter doesn't consider the new village manager the board of trustees' second choice, even though the village board selected a candidate who withdrew at the eleventh hour.

Instead, Ritter says the individual, who will be introduced to the public at a special board meeting on Tuesday, was the village board's number "one-and-a-half" pick.

"We really struggled between the two," Ritter said. "We offered the position to one who decided to stay with her current employer. But we are just as happy as we were when we made the first choice."

Trustee Paul Humpfer said the village board last Saturday offered the position to a candidate. But before the candidate was to sign a contract with Carpentersville, she received an offer of additional responsibilities, and subsequently a pay increase, with her current employee, Humpfer said.

"It was a very long discussion on the board between the top candidate and the one we are going with now," Humpfer said. "It was not a unanimous decision."

The manager will receive $130,000 a year, as well as a $300 per month vehicle stipend instead of a full-time village vehicle.

Humpfer said both candidates have extensive experience in village government and are in the Chicago area.

Neither Ritter nor Humpfer would disclose the identity of either candidate based on an agreement the board made with each person. Ritter said the new manager has yet to notify his current employer.

The manager will take over from Acting Village Manager Dawn Wucki-Rossbach beginning Sept. 21. Rossbach has served as the acting village manager since early June when Craig Anderson retired after seven years with the village.

"This person will build off what Craig Anderson was able to accomplish," Humpfer said. "It is going to be extremely positive for the village."