Retired finance director to fill in for Vernon Hills
With significant issues pending, a familiar face is making a limited return to Vernon Hills to fill the gap left by the unexpected departure of Finance Director Nicole "Nikki" Larson.
Larry Nakrin, who retired in early 2016 after 31 years in that role, will work part-time for accounting firm Lauterbach & Amen LLP, which was hired by the village board Tuesday.
"We're going to bring Larry Nakrin back for one to two days a week," said Interim Village Manager Mark Fleischhauer.
"Larry doesn't particularly want to work more than that (and) I don't think his wife wants him to work any more than that," he added.
Larson, who had served two years as assistant finance director before succeeding Nakrin, left for a job in Glencoe. Her last day in Vernon Hills was May 25.
Based in Naperville, Lauterbach & Amen works with about 80 units of government and had done Vernon Hills' financial audits for 14 consecutive years until two years ago.
With the annual village audit and upcoming implementation of a home rule food and beverage tax, there is a need to import someone with a significant amount of experience in village finances, Fleischhauer said. The firm will provide accounting and financial oversight for Vernon Hills but will not conduct the audit.
It would take months to search for and select a new finance director and the village can't afford to fall behind, he added.
According to the contract approve by the village board, Lauterbach & Amen will provide enough staff as is "reasonably necessary" to accomplish all accounting and financial tasks required for day-to-day operation.
That will include Nakrin, who will work for Nathan Gaskill, a partner at Lauterbach & Amen. The contract specifies that all individuals performing services for the village are employees and/or independent contractors for Lauterbach & Amen, which is responsible for payroll and income taxes and other costs.
Gaskill will be paid $125 per hour, Nakrin $78 per hour and a senior accountant from the firm $75 per hour.
"Larry has a very good handle on the day-to-day operation of the village," Fleischhauer said.
Lauterbach & Amen also will do an assessment of village financial policies and practices and other analysis or assessments requested by the board or village manager.
The contract said the firm was being hired on a temporary basis but a time frame was not specified.