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Carol Stream park district begins search for new director

The official search for a new Carol Stream Park District executive director begins at Monday’s board of commissioners meeting, but the groundwork has been in place for some time.

The park district is looking to fill its top administrative post after longtime director Arnie Biondo was named executive director of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.

Biondo’s last day as park district director is Jan. 8.

“Fortunately we had a succession plan in place,” park board President Tim Powers said.

He said Biondo created the plan.

“We think he’s developed a solid plan that gives us a number of options,” Powers said.

The first task, Powers said, will be for board members to decide how they want to delegate Biondo’s duties until a new director is found. For now, at least, Powers said senior management will handle day-to-day details of running their respective departments.

“We still have to find out if we’re going to find an acting director,” Powers said. “If we feel senior management can handle that, that will help us determine how much time we need (to find a permanent replacement).”

The 60-year-old Biondo, director since 1995, leaves big shoes to fill. In his tenure the district received two National Gold Medal Awards for excellence from the National Recreation and Parks Association. Managing the park district’s $6 million budget, Biondo helped it receive recognition as an Illinois Accredited Agency in 2008 and 2013.

In September, the park district unveiled its $19 million, 90,846-square-foot Fountain View Recreation Center, the jewel of a $37 million parks improvement program.

“Arnie will be a tough act to follow, there is no doubt about that,” Trustee Brenda Gramann said. “The park district is in very good shape financially and regarding our personnel.

“With all that we have accomplished and opening this awesome rec center, I think this will be a place people want to work. I don’t think we’ll have a problem attracting top-notch candidates. I don’t think we have to rush into this.”

Powers expects the board on Monday will discuss forming a committee to hammer out details of the director search.

“It is a big challenge, but fortunately our commissioners have been around for a while, and hopefully Arnie will help us too,” Powers said. “Because we lost Arnie, and because he was such a visionary, we’re going to look for somebody that has the same vision or at least shares the same forward vision that can bring us success for the next 10 years.”

DuPage forest preserve district names executive director

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