Fox River Grove mayoral candidates speak out on village administrator

All three candidates running for Fox River Grove village president agree Village Administrator Art Osten is overworked, understaffed and that his duties have increased considerably since he was hired 11 years ago.

But two candidates - Paulette Pelletier and Suzanne Blohm - have called Osten's administrative style into question.

Meanwhile, challenger Robert Nunamaker says the problem rests with the way the village board directs Osten, and not the man himself.

During a Daily Herald editorial board interview, Pelletier and Blohm, a former trustee, spoke of frequent communication issues that have arisen between trustees and Osten.

"Whether the person we have right now is right for the job is debatable," Blohm said during the interview.

More than a week later, Blohm clarified her remarks, saying she was making more of a general statement and had not meant to imply that she should be looking at Osten specifically.

"I have no issues with Art, and I've been pleased with his past performance," she said. "If issues arise, we will address them as they occur."

Pelletier, now a trustee, acknowledged Osten works hard and says the incoming village president should understand his style.

But she also said Osten is sometimes not the best channel for information because he's so overloaded.

"He's been the village administrator for a lot of years. I don't feel, 'Yes, he's got to go,' but I don't think it would be bad sometime in the future to have a fresh perspective," Pelletier said during the interview, when asked if she would fire Osten.

Pelletier about a week later said she also hadn't meant to suggest Osten is the problem and says the village should use new technology and existing personnel to ease his workload.

"No matter who is in his position, it's going to be tough and it's been tough for Art and there have been a lot of things that have been undeserved," Pelletier said.

Nunamaker, who is retired, suggested working with Osten daily to give him more direction and collaborating with trustees to communicate more clearly with him.

"Art is doing the job we hired him to do and he may ruffle some feathers, but the buck stops there," Nunamaker said.

For his part, Osten welcomes working closely with any village president and the entire board to "accomplish the goals of the village."

He also acknowledges it's difficult to please everybody.

"I think the village has done a lot of positive things," he said. "Unfortunately, not everyone is going to be happy with what the village does."