Fox River Grove ousts longtime village administrator

Pointing to a need to save money and move in another direction, the Fox River Grove village board voted unanimously to oust longtime Village Administrator Art Osten Jr.

The board voted Thursday night. Osten has been with the village for 14 years; his last day was Friday.

“We decided that we need to look around and see what’s out there,” Village President Bob Nunamaker said. “We’re a small village. He’s been with us for 14 years, going on 15, and it was probably a happy change for both of us. He was looking for new opportunities and we needed to look also, so that’s really the whole story.”

Osten was making $93,286 a year when he left. Nunamaker, who is temporarily taking over his duties, expressed a desire to hire a village administrator at a lower salary and whose focus is on downtown development. The village hopes to find a replacement within the next 30 days.

In the interim, Osten, 54, will receive his salary and benefits for the next three months as part of a severance agreement outlined in his contract. He said he enjoyed his time in Fox River Grove, and it was a pleasure to serve the community for as long as he did.

“I met many fine people, have a very hardworking, dedicated staff and I also respect the board’s right to choose an administrator they think is best for the community,” Osten said. “Change is a regular part of my profession. I’m looking forward to new opportunities.”

Osten would not comment on whether the board’s decision came as a surprise.

In a memorandum announcing Osten’s departure, Nunamaker wrote that Osten had a “significant part in the growth of the village.”

Osten listed the new public works facility, helping the village achieve a AA bond rating and the new village hall among his accomplishments.

But with village officials hoping to raise the sales tax through a referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot to help redevelop the downtown, the village needs leadership with experience transforming a downtown, Trustee Steve Knar said.

The question on Tuesday’s ballot asks voters about raising the sales tax by a quarter percentage point to 7.25 percent. That would bring in an estimated $100,000 a year, which the village would use to fund downtown projects.

“Keep in mind, Art is a friend — he helped me when I became a trustee,” Knar said. “He lives in my neighborhood. It’s an extremely difficult decision, but it’s not change for the sake of change. It’s change for the sake of a new direction.”