Rogina Confident of Search for New St. Charles Administrator

Mayor Raymond Rogina emerged from a closed-door session with aldermen on Monday feeling more confident about the future as St. Charles embarks on a search for a new city administrator.

The city announced Friday that Brian Townsend is resigning effective Aug. 30 to become village manager of Schaumburg.

“I feel confident I have the City Council behind me and we’ll find someone,” Rogina said.

“Minimally, I am going to have an interim in place before Brian leaves,” Rogina said, reiterating his remarks Friday that having the position filled — even if temporarily — is a priority. The mayor expressed optimism about finding that interim person, noting the city already has a remarkable staff, with department heads capable of handling the work.

Rogina said perhaps the most important quality a new city administrator will need is the ability to gain and earn the respect of the city’s department directors, from police to fire to public works to human resources — the whole gamut.

Gaining and earning that respect, Rogina continued, will be crucial for the new administrator to get the most out of the people with whom he or she is working.

Townsend was offered the village administrator position in Schaumburg, where he had worked before coming to St. Charles eight years ago. He said he was asked to apply for the position after Schaumburg’s manager announced plans to retire.

Negotiations, he said, came together incredibly quickly, and it was an opportunity he could not let pass.

Related

• Friday, July 19, 2013: Townsend Resigns as St. Charles Administrator

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