Alongi names Chuck Novak interim finance director

Guy Alongi took the oath of office as the mayor of the City of Du Quoin on Monday. The retired one-time executive director of the Perry County Housing Authority, former finance commissioner and chairman of the Illinois Community College Board was sworn in with wife Rose at his side holding the Bible. The oath of office was administered by Perry County Clerk Josh Gross.

It was a cordial transition from one substantial administration to another and while the nuances of how Du Quoin will do business are certain to change the question remains the same. "Is it good for Du Quoin."

Outgoing mayor Rex Duncan and Alongi shook hands and it was obvious the mutual respect was intact and that the goal is forward progress on the initiatives already begun. Alongi said he puts his trust in the city's staff, doesn't plan to micro-manage and pledged hard work and determination.

"There will be no instant gratification," he said. But, there will be promises kept and goals achieved.

Deputy city clerk Tami Burdel had been scheduled to participate in those ceremonies, but was unable to attend because of the sudden death of her sister, Kim Harrison. Deputy treasurer Jenylle Showalter served as clerk and did her job well. Alongi offered his condolences to Tami and also to police officer Lee Prince, whose mother passed away.

City administrator Brad Myers, whose position Alongi promised to eliminate during his campaign, ended his 2 1/2 year service to this city 0Friday afternoon.

With the swearing in of commissioners Dale Spencer, Mike Ward, Chuck Genesio and Gerald Whitley, the face of how the City of Du Quoin does business changes. Much of the day-to-day departmental management will fall back on the shoulders of commissioners as it did years ago. Spencer will serve as accounts and finance commissioner. Ward will serve as public health and safety commissioner. Genesio will serve as commissioner of streets and public improvements and Whitley will serve as commissioner of public property.

During Monday night's meeting the council voted to eliminate the positions of both city administrator and public works director by ordinance. A third ordinance approved Monday creates a budget and finance oversight committee. Their appointments will come in two weeks and they will include some very solid financial and legal talents including Dan Eaves, Brice Harsy, Chuck Smith, Tyson Tanner and Chuck Novak.

The fourth ordinance provides for the position of budget officer/director of finance.

Alongi announced Monday that Charles R. Novak, Du Quoin resident and president emeritus of Richland College in Decatur, will become the city's interim finance director. It was one of the mayor's promises to clearly focus on the city's fiscal integrity at the outset of his administration. Alongi begins publishing a recruitment advertisement in today's Du Quoin Evening Call in hopes of identifying qualified candidates from whom a permanent finance director will be named.

Novak served for 13 years as president of Richland College until his retirement in 2001. During his career he served 23 years as a community college president and a number of other years as a continuing education officer, a chief financial officer and a chief academic officer.

From 1997 until 2003, Novak served as the statewide chair of the Illinois Leadership and Core Values Initiative. The purpose of the initiative was to engage Illinois' 48 community colleges in serious discussions about the leadership behaviors, which support the consideration of values and ethics in the workplace.

Although retired, Novak has returned to work on many an occasion to help the community colleges. In 2006, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association awarded him the Certificate of Merit for his service to the community colleges of Illinois.

Alongi said in an email Monday, "Chuck Novak, whom I trust and respect very much now lives in Old Du Quoin, is a retired community college president very active in the chamber and community events and the brother-in- law to Richard Haines. I first met Chuck 12 years a ago when I was chairman of the Illinois Community College Board and learned very quickly that he is very sharp with money and was well respected in the educational field for his leadership abilities. He will do a great job until the position is filled full-time."

He will be compensated for his work at a rate of between $3,000 per month until the position is filled.

"I will begin my work at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning," he said, anxious to contribute.

At the outset of the evening, Duncan convened council his council for the last time, whose members include Kathy West, Don Kunkel, Yvonne Morris and Josh Downs. The minutes of the April 27 meeting were approved, the bills paid, the previous council adjourned and the new council sworn in and seated.

Alongi appointed Stephanie Cravens as the new city treasurer.

That was followed by the reappointment and salary setting for Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer and fire chief Bob Shaw, who will receive $69,992 per year; the reappointment and salary setting of city attorney Aaron Atkins, who will receive $2,600 per month; the reappointment of city engineer J.T. Blankinship & Co. of Murphysboro; the appointment and salary setting for economic development consultant Jeff Ashauer, who will receive $2,700 per month; the reappointment of Emling & Hoffman CPA as the city's auditor, and the appointment of Doug Clark as the city's emergency services coordinator who receives $200 per month.

The council filled the vacancy of retiring firefighter Capt. John VanVoorhis by hiring paid-on-call firefighter Aaron Haggard. Aaron has been with the department since July 2010.

One promise Alongi made to tourism director Judy Smid was to find for her volunteers to advance the work of tourism, particularly during the Holiday Lights Fair. On Monday, he appointed Rose Alongi, Heather Genesio, Vicki Spencer, Jan Matthews, Brenda Toney, Chandra Robinson, Jill Leake, Lora Booker, Michelle Rodely, Jami Valier, Judy Ward, Teresa Markotay, Toni Behm and Linda Whitman to the tourism commission to help Smid.

Park board member Joe Stephens addressed the council with an assessment of problems at the Du Quoin swimming pool. He and Alongi met last week with J.T. Blankinship at the pool. The engineers say it will take $27,191 to seal the seams where the stainless steel sidewalls and the concrete floor meet. The pool is also in need of a sump pump which commissioner Spencer estimates will cost $2,700 and a replacement door for the filtration and chlorination room.

The council will meet at noon on Thursday to vote on the improvements. Alongi is in favor of the repairs and says it sends the right message to swim team members and families who use the pool. He added the funds can come from two sources, about $11,000 in the gaming fund or $100,100 in the city's utility tax fund. The council will also consider a proposal to set closing times for Keyes Park because of ongoing vandalism and an incident involving a look-alike gun in the park.