Lake Zurich cranking up village manager search
Lake Zurich has hired a consultant to help in landing a new village manager.
Village board trustees at a meeting last week approved a contract with Northbrook-based GovHR USA to lead the recruitment process. Lake Zurich will pay a minimum of $18,000 to GovHR, a figured that does not include travel expenses and accommodations for village manager candidates interviewed.
"It is the policy of GovHR USA to assist our clients until an acceptable candidate is appointed to the position," said company President Heidi Voorhees, who was Wilmette's village manager from 1990 to 2001. "Therefore, no additional professional fee would be incurred should the board not make a selection from the initial group of recommended candidates and request additional candidates be developed for interview consideration."
Lake Zurich needs a new village manager due to the Sept. 1 departure of Jason Slowinski for a similar job in Golden, Colorado. Slowinski, who came to Lake Zurich from Des Plaines in May 2012, has been credited by Mayor Thomas Poynton and others for achievements including creation of a six-point action plan as part of an effort to revitalize the village's downtown.
Police Chief Steven Husak is Lake Zurich's interim village manager. He said he will return to his police chief's post after a permanent village manager is in place.
Voorhees said it could take about 12 weeks to hire a new village manager. Her firm also is helping Mount Prospect hire a new village manager for the same price as Lake Zurich will pay.
To start, GovHR will conduct interviews with Poynton, Lake Zurich senior administration employees and some residents to develop a village manager recruitment brochure. GovHR then will advertise the position and handle candidate evaluation and screening.
When the field is narrowed, a "meet-and-greet" session may be held to allow the community to become acquainted with the village manager candidates in an informal setting. The finalists would describe themselves to the crowd and take questions.
Village board trustees will vote on the candidate who is recommended for Lake Zurich's top administrative post.
Slowinski replaced Bogdan "Bob" Vitas, who received an $85,000 cash payout after resigning as village administrator in November 2011. Vitas was hired after a national search and worked in Lake Zurich for four years.