Recently promoted Elgin staff member becomes 4th high-ranking official to leave city

Elgin Assistant City Manager Aaron Cosentino, who was promoted to the job less than five months ago, resigned his position, the fourth high-level staff departure in the city within the last year.

Cosentino declined to say where he will be working in an email to the Daily Herald. His last day is April 27.

"My new role will be using CRM technology to manage student relationships for higher educational institutions," he said. "I am pursuing this opportunity for personal professional goals, namely to work with technology at a more accelerated pace. It's an exciting opportunity that I couldn't pass up."

Cosentino, 32, was hired as an intern in 2008. City Manager Rick Kozal promoted Cosentino and Laura Valdez, both senior management analysts, to assistant city managers in late November. They're paid $120,644.

Public Services Director Greg Rokos resigned in May, Interim Public Services Director Kyla Jacobsen - previously the longtime water director - retired in December, and Police Chief Jeff Swoboda will be leaving soon for a job in Colorado. After her resignation, Jacobsen filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming the city discriminated against her because of her gender and age.

"The timing of my departure might allow people to infer that I am leaving for internal reasons or that I am not happy under the leadership of Rick Kozal," Cosentino said. "That is simply not true. Rick is an incredible boss and leader."

Kozal said the city has benefited from Cosentino's 10 years of service.

"Aaron Cosentino is a phenomenal talent with a profound ability to demystify complex systems, processes or subjects," Kozal said. "Mr. Cosentino is particularly effective in imparting that knowledge in a manner that makes it remarkably easy for the intended audience to understand and benefit from his insight."

Kozal declined to give specifics on any plans to replace Cosentino, saying he'll evaluate staffing needs "as part of the administration's continuing obligation to provide effective and efficient services."

Kozal also declined to comment on whether he's having difficulties retaining high-level staff members. He did say new Water Director Eric Weiss is leading the way in "improving staffing and mechanical efficiencies," and new Public Works Superintendents Aaron Neal and Greg Hulke "have already identified operational efficiencies that saved tax dollars without affecting the delivery of core services."

Mayor David Kaptain said Cosentino will be working for a private company. Kaptain said he doesn't believe the four departures are connected.

Without going into specifics about personnel, Kaptain said, "There have been a lot of issues of restructuring, people being moved from job to job, and sometimes that doesn't sit well with them," he said.

Swoboda had interviewed for at least one other job before, he added.

Cosentino's resignation is a loss for the city, Kaptain said. "He's a great young guy. He did some wonderful work with the budget while he was here. ... Opportunities come along and people move on."