Zaida Torres out as Wauconda’s village administrator
Wauconda Village Administrator Zaida Torres will leave that post, likely within the next few months, officials confirmed Friday.
Torres will stay on as the town’s finance director. She’s held both jobs since late last year.
Torres will remain village administrator until a replacement is found, Mayor Frank Bart said. That process could take 90 days, he said.
Bart called the change amicable. Torres said it is Bart’s choice, adding that she respects his right to choose an administrator.
The maneuver is the latest high-level staffing change since Bart’s administration began in May. Police Chief Douglas Larsson is leaving the department at Bart’s request, too.
Torres has worked for the village since 2004.
She was named interim village administrator in October 2012 and was awarded the job the following month.
Bart was highly critical of Torres’ job performance during his campaign for mayor. In a January candidate endorsement interview with the Daily Herald, Bart called Torres unqualified, saying she wasn’t a “credible choice” for the post.
“I don’t think that she fits the bill of village administrator,” Bart said at the time.
On Friday, Bart praised the work Torres has done as finance director but said she doesn’t have the “operational experience” to be the town’s top administrator.
Given time, however, she could be a future candidate for the post, Bart said.
The village board on Tuesday will consider hiring a Deerfield firm to search for a new administrator. Voorhees Associates could be paid $16,000 for the task.
The administration wasn’t the only village department Bart targeted during his campaign.
The new mayor also was critical of staffing levels and salaries in the police department.
In a public meeting two weeks ago, Bart said he didn’t intend to keep Larsson on as chief once he was elected.
Bart plans to promote Sgt. Patrick Yost to replace Larsson after he leaves Aug. 31.
Larsson’s ouster sparked community outrage and organized protest.