Village Hires New Administrator

The Oswego voted Tuesday night to approve the hiring of a new village administrator.

Steven A. Jones, who most recently worked as an assistant village manager in the village of Carpentersville, officially will begin June 4 with Oswego. The La Grange Park resident said he accepted the position in Oswego because he believes it’s a growing and dynamic community.

“Oswego has positioned itself well. Even during tough economic times, the community keeps moving forward,” Jones said after the unanimous vote to hire him.

Jones will collect an annual salary of $135,000 and receive a $500-per-month vehicle allowance, according to village attorney Karl Ottosen.

As for what he will tackle first in his new position, Jones said the first few months will be spent getting to know the community.

“I really need to listen and find out what makes this town tick and find out how I can add value," he said.

Before taking the job in Carpentersville, Jones worked as the village manager in Glen Ellyn, leaving that post after three years in December 2010. He said he resigned after a difference in management philosophies arose with elected officials in the village.

The Oswego position has been open since the departure of former administrator Gary Adams in June. Police Chief Dwight Baird has been acting as interim village administrator since March 2011, when Adams handed in his resignation.

Village President Brian LeClercq thanked Baird for pulling double duty for about a year, and said Baird will help Jones through a 30-day transition period. 

The nearly year-long absence of a full-time administrator was due to the village waiting to complete its before making the hire, LeClercq has said. That plan was adopted in the fall, and the village picked Jones from six final candidates who were interviewed by the trustees in recent closed session meetings. 

Jones said he has read the village's strategic plan, calling parts of it "bold." Jones will meet with Baird soon to discover the status of some of the initiatives contained within the plan.

"Clearly when you devote a lot of time, effort and money to come up with a plan like this, it just can't sit on a shelf," he said.