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News
Oswego economic development director out : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisOswego economic development director out
| Village again seeking applicants for position created 16 months ago
| by John Etheredge
| 10/25/2012
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The Village of Oswego is again seeking applicants for the position of economic development director-just 16 months after the village board voted to create the position.
Meanwhile, village officials are declining to comment on the departure last week of the first person to serve as economic development director, Tony Lucenko of Plainfield.
Both Village President Brian LeClercq and Village Administrator Steve Jones described Lucenko's departure as a "personnel matter."
Lucenko had not returned a phone call as of press time this week.
LeClercq, however, said, "I'm always disappointed when we lose staff. But I know that business moves on and I look forward to the prospects for economic development in Oswego."
He continued, "For a while now we've been really working hard to reduce our payroll and our overall expenses and we've done that successfully. Now it's time to grow our community, especially with businesses because they expand the tax base. I think people would be a lot happier if they saw their taxes reduced."
LeClercq said until the village can hire a replacement, economic development activities will be handled by Jones working with the village's community development and community relations departments.
The village board voted 4-0 in August of 2011 to approve LeClercq's appointment of Lucenko, who had served previously as economic development director in northwest suburban Grayslake.
Just two months earlier in a controversial move, the board voted 3-2 to create its own economic development department and establish the economic development director's position.
Prior to June of 2011, the Oswego Economic Development Corporation (OEDC), a public-private organization that was funded through annual dues paid by the village, other local governmental agencies and local businesses, handled economic development efforts for the village.
The OEDC was established by a prior village board in the mid-1990s with the support of local businesses.
The village's annual dues payment to the OEDC was $85,000.
The OEDC folded after the village withdrew its financial support and membership to the agency.
Prior to voting to withdraw its membership in the OEDC, board members cited problems with a lack of accountability concerning the agency's finances and activities. A board comprised of representatives from the village, other participating local governmental agencies and business partners set policy and oversaw the agency's operations.
Jones said the village's current fiscal year budget for the economic development department totals $157,000, which includes the director's salary and other expenses.
Jones said as economic development director Lucenko was a "one person department, but did work in collaboration with other village staffers," including Michele Bergeron, the village's community relations coordinator and Rod Zenner, the village's community development director.
In hiring Lucenko last year, the board set his annual salary at $74,000.
The village is currently advertising the position on its website and in professional journals, according to Jones.
He said as of Monday evening the village had already received some resumes.
"My hope is that prior to the first of the year we will have one or two very qualified candidates that we will be considering," Jones said.
He added it will be up to LeClercq to appoint an individual to the position, with the approval and consent of the board.
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