Monday, July 16, 2012
Former Oak Park village manager Tom Barwin may be packing his bags for the Sunshine State. Contract negotiations underway.
Former Oak Park Village Manager Tom Barwin has been offered the job as city manager of Sarasota, Fla. Now, it's up to him to accept. Sarasota Patch reports on the developments: Barwin was selected 5-0 by the city commission Monday afternoon to be the city's new manager...Commissioner Terry Turner selected Barwin because he worked in a city in a similar size as Sarasota, similar architectural values and Oak Park also has "unfortunately the level of political dischord." Mayor Suzanne Atwell said Barwin has "extraordinary temperament, a calming influence." "He looks beyond himself, but he's still savvy," she said. Earlier this year, Barwin pulled out as a finalist for the job as city administrator post in Waukesha, Wisconsin, telling Patch "…
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Former Oak Park leader sought after for top jobs in at least two communities.
Sarasota Patch reports former Oak Park village manager Tom Barwin is one of four finalists for the city manager job in the Sunshine State. Here's the link. Last week, we heard from Waukesha (Wisc.) Patch, which reported Barwin is finalist for the city administrator job there. Barwin, of course, unexpectedly resigned from the Oak Park job back in February. Since then, the search has been on for a new village manager. The Oak Park village board last month approved a search firm, Slavin Management Consultants, to begin scouting for the job. A public meeting held on Thursday seeking the community feedback about the search had poor turnout, Wednesday Journal reports. Slavin is expected to put forth a draft of the search criteria later this …
Friday, June 1, 2012
Waukesha, Wisc. eyes former Oak Park village manager Tom Barwin for top job.
Waukesha Patch reports that former Oak Park Village Manage Tom Barwin is one of four finalists for a city administrator job there. Barwin unexpectedly, and somewhat mysteriously, resigned from the Oak Park job back in February. The Oak Park Village Board declined to say if they'd forced him out. Still, he was gone nine days after making the sudden announcement. At the time, Barwin told Patch he was exploring options in the private sector and nonprofit world, areas where policy decisions and action happen more quickly than in civic government — which he likened to “running with a parachute.” So what about Waukesha? U.S. Census figures show the city's population is 70,718, a bit bigger than Oak Park at 51,878. Here's a few other highlights …
Thursday, March 29, 2012
After closed-door session, trustees OK severance pay for former Oak Park Village Manager.
Village officials in Oak Park have been tight-lipped over what led to Tom Barwin's surprise resignation last month, but they've unanimously approved a parting gift in the form of a $125,000 severance payment. The Oak Park Village Board on Monday voted 5-0 to approve the payment after a 90-minute closed-door session. Trustees Bob Tucker and Glenn Brewer were absent from the meeting. Earlier: VIDEO — Tom Barwin Resigns According to Oak Leaves, the settlement includes "includes an additional 36 hours credit for unused vacation time and deductions for health and life insurance premiums." Quoting from Village President David Pope's prepared statement, Wednesday Journal reports that the decision leading to the split between Barwin and the board…
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Surprise announcement revealed at Tuesday's Village Board meeting.
Update, 1:25 p.m. We heard back from Tom Barwin earlier today. Among our first questions was whether or not he was forced to resign. Here’s what he said: “I think I’m going to email you my comments [from Tuesday's Oak Park Village Board meeting], I really want to keep the initial focus on those comments,” he said. “I’m making every effort to be completely professional and wrap up some of those loose ends…I’d emphasize that it’s never an easy time or a good time to leave something you enjoy and you think you’re doing pretty well at.” So this decidedly isn’t a retirement? “Oh no,” he said. “No, not in my view. I’m only 57 years old and getting near the top of my skill set." Barwin went on to say he’s exploring options in the private sector …
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Restrictions, programs would have to be written to conform with SCOTUS rulings, withstand legal challenges.
More than a year after the the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its long-standing ban on handguns, Oak Park officials are looking for new ways to limit potential firearm owners. This time, they'll approach gun ownership as a public health issue. Why? Because organizations as varied as the American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have for years said that the gun-associated violence is a public health epidemic in the United States. And in Oak Park, the Department of Public Health has a mandate to protect the community's health from preventable death and injury, so the board of health seemed to be the most logical place to start a review, Village Manager Tom Barwin said. “When you look at the issue from a public …
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Village's plan will outline steps that could ease homeowner woes.
Last month’s heavy rains have been described as a 50-year event, but to residents living in the far northeast section of Oak Park, every big rain is considered a major situation. Bounded by Austin Boulevard on the east, Ridgeland on the west, Berkshire on the south and North Avenue on the north, the northeast section is the lowest spot in town. This year’s rains filled up the bowl-shaped area quite rapidly, residents say. Now exasperated with the flooding and the sanitary sewer back-ups that have wreaked havoc in their homes – not to mention to their lives – residents have gotten organized. They've created a Facebook page to share information with friends and neighbors about solutions and issues. And they are turning to the village for …
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Tom Barwin blogs a travelogue.
Oak Park Village Manager Tom Barwin is traveling throughout China with a "Chicagoland local government delegation" that also includes Lombard Village Manager Dave Hulesberg and Lombard School District Supt. Jim Blanche. Barwin is documenting the trip on his Tumblr blog, MissionMainStreet, which is now packed with an assortment of photos from The Great Wall, Beijing, Honk Kong and elsewhere. Take a look.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Oak Park vllage attorney will hang it up after more than 30 years in public service.
Village attorney Ray Heise, a veteran of public life in Oak Park, is retiring after nearly 40 years of employment, officials announced Friday. The retirement is effective June 30. Heise will be replaced in the interim by assistant village attorney Simone Boutet as village officials deliberate the future of the village's law department. According to a press release issued Friday, Heise "expects to continue to be available to work part-time as the Law Department transitions into its new configuration." Heise spent time as a law clerk with Oak Park in 1975, became village prosecutor in 1976 and was later promoted to assistant village attorney and, in 1984, became village attorney, the post he's held ever since. "It has been an honor to work …
Friday, April 29, 2011
Rounding up the best in local news, this and every Friday.
We can't be everywhere and neither can you. The "Week in Review" is designed to bring you up to speed on local news in Oak Park and River Forest. Let's get to it: Chasing the Clouds Away? If you feel like it's rained more than it hasn't this month, you're right. Chicago Tribune reports it's been the rainiest April in 50 years. Indecent Exposure: Two men were charged with public indecency in separate incidents after witnesses spotted them openly masturbating in Oak Park. Lawsuit: Oak Parker Noel Kuriakos and a group called Taxpayers United of America have filed suit against the Oak Park Elementary District 97 school board. The suit claims language on the April 5 referendum question asking for a tax hike was intentionally misleading. The …
John C.
2:10 am on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I guess I'm one of those "Liberals" everyone's harping about around here. But I heartily endorse an IL conceal/carry statute. BTW, I'm also an Oak Park resident & have discussed this with members of our local police department - who support such legislation. I urge my fellow OP neighbors to fight for this Constitutional privilege! more ›