[8-5-1996]
A. 
There is hereby created the office of Village Administrator, an administrative office of the Village.
B. 
Words imparting a particular gender shall include the other gender, and words used in a plural or collective sense shall include the singular and vice versa, and the context of this article shall be read accordingly when the facts require it.
[8-5-1996; amended 3-6-2006]
A. 
The Village Administrator shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees. The Village Administrator shall be chosen by the President and said choice shall be considered by the Board solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualification with special reference to his actual experience in or his knowledge of accepted practice in respect to the duties of his office hereafter set forth, and such requirements and qualifications are hereby declared to be of a nature to require technical training or knowledge. No Trustee or President shall receive such appointment during the term for which he shall have been elected, nor within one year after the expiration of his term.
B. 
During the absence or disability of the Village Administrator, the President with the advice and the consent of the Board of Trustees may designate some properly qualified person to act as Village Administrator pro tempore to perform the duties of the office.
[8-5-1996]
The term of the office of the Village Administrator shall be not shorter than for one year nor longer than the term of the President appointing him. The Village Administrator may resign from his office or may be removed therefrom only in such manner as is provided by the Statutes of the State of Illinois pertaining to the resignation or the removal of the appointed officers.
[8-5-1996]
A. 
Before entering upon the duties of his office, the Village Administrator shall furnish a surety bond in the amount of $5,000 to be approved by the Board of Trustees, said bond to be conditioned on the faithful performance of his duties. The premium of the bond shall be paid by the Village.
B. 
Before entering upon the duties of his office, the Village Administrator shall take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the Statutes of the State of Illinois in such case provided.
[8-5-1996]
The Village Administrator shall receive compensation in such amount and manner as the Board shall fix from time to time by ordinance or resolution.
[8-5-1996]
The Village Administrator shall have custody and control of all documents, including debts, mortgages, leases, contracts, judgment orders, notes, bonds, and evidences of indebtedness belonging to the Village except such as are directed by law or ordinance to be deposited elsewhere. He shall have supervision over the accounting work of the Village. Specifically, but not in limitation of the above, he shall have the following powers and duties:
A. 
On or before the 15th day of May in each year and before the annual appropriation ordinance is prepared by the corporate authorities, shall submit to the corporate authorities a report of his estimate as nearly as may be of the money necessary to defray the expenses of the Village during the next fiscal year, and in said report, shall classify and detail the purposes of expenditure, the aggregate income of the preceding fiscal year, the Village liabilities and such other information as is necessary to the President and the Board of Trustees to adopt an appropriation ordinance.
B. 
For the purpose of preparing the aforesaid estimate, is authorized to require all officers to submit statements of the condition and expenses of their respective offices or departments, a description of proposed Village improvements, and the probable expense thereof, a description of all unperformed contracts and a statement of the amount of all unexpired appropriations of the preceding year.
C. 
Shall recommend to the President and the Board of Trustees the salaries to be paid each appointive subordinate employee of the Village.
D. 
With the approval of the Board of Trustees, shall consolidate, combine, or reorganize positions or units under his jurisdiction.
E. 
Shall supervise the purchase of all materials, supplies or equipment subject to and pursuant to directives and appropriations made and provided by the President and the Board of Trustees, and subject also to the Statutes of the State of Illinois pertaining to creation of liabilities against the Village and pertaining to the expenditures or appropriations of the monies of the Village.
F. 
Shall each month cause to be prepared and shall present to the Board a statement showing the exact financial condition of the Village as of the end of the preceding month.
G. 
Research opportunities for grants from government agencies and private sources, and recommend those that appear obtainable. Prepare and transmit applications, including supporting documents as authorized. Prepare documentation to verify compliance with grant disbursement requirements.
H. 
Submit requests, with recommendations, for expenditures that exceed specified dollar or approved budget limits.
I. 
Shall give such additional reports and information concerning the fiscal matters of the Village as may from time to time be required by the Village Board.
[8-5-1996]
In addition to the above duties, the Village Administrator shall perform such other duties as are herein provided. The Village Administrator shall be the chief administrative officer of the Village and shall be responsible to the President and to the Board of Trustees for the administration and operation of all of the affairs and the departments of the Village. As such administrative officer he shall have the administration and supervision of all matters and things pertaining to the operation and maintenance of the properties of the Village and of all of the departments of the Village, including the Department of Public Works, the Fire Department, the Police Department, the Water Department, the Health Department, the Department of Streets and Sewers, Recreation Department, and the general offices of the Village; he shall also have supervision of such other administrative agencies and departments and officers as may be hereafter created by the Village Board of Trustees unless the administration and control of such departments and officers is expressly delegated elsewhere. Shall perform his duties in conformity with the rules of the Police and Fire Commission. Specifically, but not in limitation of the above, he shall have the following additional powers and duties:
A. 
May recommend to the President and to the Board of Trustees the appointment of all officers of the Village who are required by law to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees, and may recommend to the President the appointment of employees and officers who are required to be appointed by the President. He shall further recommend the removal or suspension of any such officer or employee when such removal or suspension shall be consistent with the best interests of the Village. All such recommendations for appointment or removal shall be based upon merit and upon the qualifications or disqualifications of such officer or employee without regard to political belief or affiliation.
B. 
Shall attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees unless excused therefrom by the Board, except when his removal is under consideration by the Board. He shall have the privilege of taking part in the discussion of all matters coming before the Board and shall be entitled to notice of all meetings, regular and special, of the Board.
C. 
Shall make investigations into the affairs of the Village or any department or division thereof and shall investigate all complaints in relation to matters concerning Village services and Village administration.
D. 
Interpret and review with Village employees provisions of municipal retirement, health, workers' compensation and liability protection insurance. Enroll new employees, arrange for payroll deductions, adjust coverage as requested, and assist in filing insurance claims. Correspond with insurance agents and carriers as necessary. Maintain relative records.
E. 
May be requested to represent the Village in collective bargaining matters when directed to the President and Board of Trustees.
F. 
Consult with departments regarding employee performance, training and development. Discuss proposed salary or rate adjustments with department heads, and submit proposed adjustments to the board for appropriate action with recommendations.
G. 
Review daily mail and respond to those seeking information that do not require prior review by the President or a Trustee, with copies of responses to Board members. Draft letters of response for the President and/or Trustees where such procedure is required and attach relevant files as appropriate.
H. 
Periodically review departmental administrative procedures and establish new and/or modify existing record and report practices to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
I. 
Periodically review departmental material and supply inventories and purchasing practices to identify excesses or duplication and areas where greater efficiency can be achieved. Contract for services, materials and supplies to satisfy departmental requirements within Board specified dollar limits and those imposed by authorized budgets.
J. 
In consultation with appropriate department heads, investigate and respond to or otherwise resolve resident and business owner complaints, suggestions and requests where such responses do not require official Board action. Login and report such communications and actions to the Board as deemed appropriate, but at least weekly.
K. 
Shall devote his entire time to the discharge of official duties.
L. 
Shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by the Board consistent with the Village Ordinances or the Statutes of the State of Illinois.
[8-5-1996]
The Village Administrator shall also perform the duties of the Director of Community Development of the Village of Thornton. The Village Administrator shall develop, initiate, coordinate and administer programs designed to develop unused and unutilized properties within the Village for retail, commercial and industrial business development. Specifically, but not in limitation of the above, he shall have the following additional powers and duties:
A. 
Develop bases for property marketing strategies by compiling data and information such as property owner identification numbers (PIN), types and areas of structures, square footage of properties, means of ingress and egress, valuations, taxes, etc.
B. 
Consult with community business operators and property owners to establish and maintain cooperative relationships and to obtain suggestions and opinions on present and proposed development activities.
C. 
Develop and regularly update a broad scope of pertinent economic development information and concepts by attending seminars and workshops and by conferring with realtors, developers, financiers, state and county officials, chambers of commerce representatives and others.
D. 
Produce and arrange for the publication and distribution of marketing and advertising materials. In consultation with the Village Board, design a developers financial assistance matrix.
E. 
Meet with prospective developers and appropriate Village officials to review possible development opportunities and the provisions of Village ordinances and building codes.
F. 
Review and evaluate the merits of each development proposal based on factors such as anticipated revenues from sales and/or increased property taxes and local employment possibilities. Present recommended developers' assistance programs to the Board.
G. 
Meet with developers and Village officials in negotiating Board approved property development agreements.
H. 
Review and evaluate opportunities to assist existing business owners in upgrading properties where such assistance may result in economic benefit to the Village. Present findings to the Board for appropriate action.
I. 
Periodically evaluate the effectiveness of existing TIF districts. Advise the Board of the study findings and, as appropriate, recommend changes in existing district boundaries, proposes new districts, or project abandonments.
J. 
Perform related and other duties such as: as appropriate, confer with the Planning and Development Commission on potential development plans; maintain files and records; in conjunction with the Treasurer, prepare an annual report of development assistance provided and revenues received from assisted projects; arrange secretarial services as needed to transcribe reports and memoranda; etc.
[8-5-1996]
Except for the purpose of inquiry, other officers of the Village shall deal with the administrative service through the Village Administrator and said officers shall not give orders to any subordinates of the Village Administrator, either publicly or privately.
[8-5-1996]
If any section, subsection or sentence, clause, or phrase of this article is for any reason held to be invalid, such decision or decisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this article. All ordinances of the Village prescribing the duties of heads or departments shall remain in full force and effect except insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this article in which case the provisions of this article govern.