Hampshire hires temporary administrator

The months-long search for a new village administrator in Hampshire has been temporarily resolved. The village hired Doug Maxeiner as an interim administrator on a part-time basis. Maxeiner's contract dictates he stay at least through the duration of the April election cycle and will work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting Jan. 17.

Three trustees and Village President Jeff Magnussen interviewed three final candidates in October, but the committee's top choice declined the job offer. Maxeiner, who is accustomed to a bigger paycheck as the former administrator for the City of McHenry, will fill in until he finds a full-time job or until the village finds someone to step into the position.

The Hampshire village board decided to pause the search for a permanent administrator until after the election to allow a new board to make the final decision.

Until then, Magnussen said, budget restraints dictated the hire of a part-time rather than full-time employee.

“Everyone is trying to do more with less and the Village of Hampshire is no different,” Magnussen said.

While continuing his own job search, Maxeiner, 48, is glad for the flexibility of the Hampshire position.

“It allows me to keep my fingers in the profession, make a little bit of money and still seek permanent, full-time employment,” he said.

Maxeiner resigned from McHenry in July after almost eight years as the administrator. He said the board was moving in one direction and he was moving in another so he thought it best to leave. Maxeiner graduated from Northern Illinois University with a master's degree in public administration and has also worked in Rockford and Marengo as the top administrator.

Maxeiner still lives in McHenry with his wife and two children.

Magnussen said Maxeiner was one of the original applicants for the Hampshire position but was taken out of the mix because of his previous salary.

“Knowing how much he was making and how much we were offering, we were pretty confident if we offered him the job, it might be a short time before he moved on to someone who could pay what he is worth,” Magnussen said.

Maxeiner will make $48 an hour with a minimum of 24 hours per week.

Magnussen said Maxeiner has excellent credentials and the village is lucky to have him, if only for a few months on an hourly basis.

Maxeiner will relieve Magnussen of the duties he has covered since Eric Palm left the village administrator position at the end of October.