Board hires interim administrator firm and a recruiting firm, sets salary ceiling for new administrator

With the village currently between permanent administrators the board approved two related actions: a short-term contract for interim administrative services and a search contract to recruit a permanent village administrator. Trustees voted to contract with Innovative Public Advisors (IPA) to provide interim administrator services at up to 20 hours per week at $115 per hour. Staff said earlier interim contracts used similar hourly arrangements. The board authorized staff to assign and approve hours as needed; the firm's role is to assist staff with the budget and day-to-day administration while the village completes a permanent hire. The board also authorized IPA to conduct a permanent administrator search for a fee not to exceed $16,625 and set a salary ceiling of $140,000 as the upper bound for the village administrator position. Trustees discussed comparable salaries in neighboring jurisdictions; staff provided salary comparisons (for example, Richfield and other municipalities) and recommended setting a competitive range so the village can recruit experienced candidates. The recruitment contract will include candidate prescreening and delivery of a set of qualified candidates for board interviews; the board can decide finalists for in-person interviews. Board members asked staff to clarify how the interim contract and the recruitment contract would be billed and coordinated, and staff said the two tasks are distinct functions and would be billed separately. The motion to hire the interim services and to retain the recruiting firm carried.