Grayslake to outsource finance jobs, replace other staffers who've left

Four senior members of the Grayslake village staff left to pursue opportunities for jobs in other villages late last year, and so far the village has replaced them by promoting from within and outsourcing some responsibilities.

In October, Finance Director and Treasurer Bettina O'Connell left to work as finance director in Lake Bluff. Also that month, Peter Riggs, the operations supervisor for the public works department, accepted a position as the public works director for Burlington, Wisconsin.

In November, Assistant Village Manager Kevin Timony left to become the village administrator in Wauconda. And the same month, Dave Oberg, the executive director of the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, took a job as the director of the Elmhurst History Museum.

Brett Kryska, who took over as assistant village manager, said the departures weren't related.

"In all of these cases they left because they found other opportunities," Kryska said.

Mayor Rhett Taylor said the departures were all positive moves for the former staff members. Taylor said it also reflected well on the village that the staff has been able to have so many people depart without lowering the quality of service provided to residents.

On Tuesday, the Grayslake village board voted to outsource O'Connell's job responsibilities to the accounting firm of Lauterbach and Amen. The Naperville-based firm had been handling the village's financial services on an interim basis since O'Connell's departure.

Taylor said it was an opportunity to have the accounting and treasurer functions of the village handled by the private sector and save the taxpayer from paying pension and retirement costs for an employee.

"As long as the work is done well and it saves taxpayers money, it seems like a win-win," Taylor said.

Kryska said contracting for the financial services follows the village's approach over decades of privatizing certain service functions where possible.

Michelle Poe is the interim director of the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum. Kryska said there is no current search for a new executive director to replace Oberg.

Taylor said the village board will likely discuss the future of the executive director position in the first quarter of 2018.

"Michelle is completely capable of filling the role at this time," Taylor said.

Kryska said there are no plans to fill Riggs' old position as the operations supervisor for the public works department at this time.

He said the village is in the process of hiring someone to take on his former management responsibilities.