Replacing manager will be a challenge, Buffalo Grove says

How do you replace 32 years of experience?

That will be the question facing the Buffalo Grove Village Board as it seeks to find a successor to Village Manager William Brimm, who announced his retirement during an executive session at the end of Monday's village board meeting.

Brimm, who was named village manager in 2006, has served with the village, mainly as finance director, since 1978.

Buffalo Grove Village Clerk Janet Sirabian has known Brimm for his entire stint with the village, beginning when Sirabian was secretary to the plan commission.

"We have never had and we never will have anybody that has poured his whole heart and soul into Buffalo Grove like Bill has," Sirabian said.

Sirabian said a key ingredient in a new village manager would be integrity, as well as "the strength to be able to stand up to people." But the tallest order, perhaps, would be the expertise to run a company of 250 employees that serves 45,000 residents. "It's not easy."

Brimm's announcement was low key. About midnight Monday, he handed in his retirement letter, stating that it would be effective Friday, June 11.

He didn't elaborate on why he was leaving, other than to say, "I have given a great deal of thought to where I am being led. Just yesterday, I celebrated my 61st birthday and while not considered old anymore, (it) does make me realize that matters of age and responsibility do warrant thought and consideration."

He added that he will be helping in the raising of his 4-year-old grandson.

"This was a difficult decision to make because I have developed professional as well as personal relationships with many of the staff and board members," said Brimm, who lives in Arlington Heights. "I will remember all of my years with Buffalo Grove as one of the highlights of my life. I have truly enjoyed and been proud of the many accomplishments that we have achieved over all these years."

Brimm did not allude to his conflicts with Trustee Lisa Stone, who was elected last April. And when asked about Brimm's retirement Tuesday, she would only say, "I wish him well."

But Village President Elliott Hartstein did blame Stone for accelerating Brimm's retirement. He missed the meeting because he was undergoing tests for dizziness, but he was reached by phone Tuesday night at Glenbrook Hospital.

"I think there is probably no one finer in terms of what he has done for the village of Buffalo Grove," he said. "I'm really saddened by the fact that it was accelerated by some of the activities of this past year. - The fact of the matter is we have had a trustee that has acted in a way that has basically created a climate that has basically made it very difficult to continue to deal with the day-to-day operation of our community." He didn't use Stone's name, saying "It is pretty self-evident." Stone declined to respond to Hartstein's remarks.

After a long period of government by quiet consensus, the board was rocked by controversy following Stone's election. Stone openly called Brimm's performance into question - particularly in the wake of controversy over how approval of an off-track betting parlor was handled. That led to a review of whether the village had violated the Open Meetings Act and if the village had adequately complied with a Freedom of Information Act request for related e-mails when additional e-mails later were located.

The Cook County state's attorney's office recently said it found no reason for action against the village in the matter, though it cautioned Buffalo Grove to be careful how it handled such matters in the future.

Some village board members complained that Stone harassed Brimm with phone calls at all hours of the day, including weekends. As a result, guidelines were set for village board members to contact village staff.

"I get the sense over the last year, his job had become much more stressful, and with retirement coming up anyway - he always told us he wasn't going to work more than four or five years - I think for his own sake and for his own health and well-being, he made his decision now," Trustee Jeffrey Braiman said.

The conflict between Stone and the old guard on the board may make it difficult to find Brimm's replacement, he said.

"Some managers, or assistant managers, may be frightened of getting in a situation where there may be a conflict or perceived incivility on the board," he said.

Trustee Jeffrey Berman agreed. "I think it's always difficult to fill that position. It may be even more so now. I think our environment may be viewed by some potential candidates as challenging. There is no secret that last year has been a challenging environment on our board and in the village."

It will be Hartstein's job to appoint a successor, subject to the consent of the village board. Hartstein said he will be reaching out to the board for input and feedback at the earliest possible time.

Braiman said despite the difficulties, he's confident the right person can be found.

"I imagine we'll hire a search company and we'll do a nationwide search to get the right person. There are a lot of very well qualified, very impressive managers and assistant managers out there, and I'm sure we'll find somebody that will work well for us."

Brimm, who grew up in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, was named village manager in 2006 after his predecessor retired.

In recognizing Brimm for 25 years of work in 2003, Hartstein said "Our financial well-being - undoubtedly would not be what it is today without the efforts that have been tireless and continuous and unselfishly given day in and day out for the last 25 years by our own assistant village manager and finance director, Bill Brimm."

Hartstein noted that Brimm had overseen a local economy with a tax base that grew from $22.9 million in assessed value to $1.2 billion, while the population swelled from 16,000 to 43,000. The tax rate and the water rate had remained stable for more than two decades, and Brimm had received the Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association more than 20 times.