This story has been updated.
The La Grange Village Board Monday unanimously approved Community Development Director Charity Jones as Acting Village Manager.
Jones will continue with her own duties while replacing the outgoing Andrianna Peterson, who leaves to become the Assistant Village Manager at the Village of Hinsdale.
“The Village staff is an outstanding team of dedicated professionals and I am humbled by the opportunity to lead our team during this transition period,” Jones said when contacted later.
Jones has served the Village for six years, having previously worked for the Village of Lemont, first as a village planner and then the Village’s Director of Planning and Development.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
She will serve as the Acting Village Manager until a permanent replacement for Peterson is approved by the Board and be paid 5 % above her current salary of $134,926.
The Board approved $23,500 for executive recruitment firm GovHR, a firm that specializes in filling positions in Illinois governments, to assist in the search for Peterson’s replacement.
The Board also approved a Resolution of Appreciation for Peterson, who was in the audience.
Peterson first signed on with the Village in 2006 as the Assistant Village Manager, becoming Village Manager in 2017.
President Mark Kuchler praised Peterson, saying “we needed a leader, and she was that leader for five years,” and quoted former President Tom Livingston, who said “she made the trains run on schedule. Things got done when they were supposed to be done.”
The resolution specifically noted that Peterson was at the helm during the restoration of the Stone Avenue Train Station, the formation of the Lyons Township Area Communications Center (LTAAC), and the leadership Peterson showed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Board members lauded Peterson.
“I thank you for your attention to detail and your deep concern for the health and wellness of this community,” Beth Augustine said.
Shawana McGee noted Peterson’s commitment to communicating with residents, saying that she always made sure to reach out at times when Dr. Martin Luther King was being honored.
“She always made sure we had proper representation,” McGee said.
“This is all a bit overwhelming,” Peterson said after President Mark Kuchler read the resolution, saying that it was a “privilege for over 16 years to work with so many professional and inspirational elected leaders and staff, was well as residents, nonprofits and businesses. Few jobs are as fulfilling and provide the ability to directly affect people’s lives like public service.”
Other personnel matters resolved at the meeting were the swearing in of Cody Boll and Walter Findysz as firefighters/paramedics, and Jeffrey Behland and Thomas Bensfield as Fire Department captains.
The next La Grange Village Board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at La Grange Village Hall, 53 S. La Grange Rd.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
