Haney QC 2017-08-08 035
Local News

Haney starts work as Homewood’s new assistant village manager

Homewood trustees welcomed a new assistant manager to the village staff at the board meeting Tuesday. Napoleon Haney of Matteson took the oath of office to fill the spot that has been vacant since Michael Marzal resigned at the end of January. Haney started work Monday.

  Homewood’s new Assistant Village Manager 
  Napoleon Haney with his family, from left, Pamela, 
  Jacob, Haney and Justin.
(Photo by Quincy Crump/
  H-F Chronicle)

 

Homewood trustees welcomed a new assistant manager to the village staff at the board meeting Tuesday.

Napoleon Haney of Matteson took the oath of office to fill the spot that has been vacant since Michael Marzal resigned at the end of January. Haney started work Monday.

He comes to Homewood from Orland Park, where he was the assistant public works administrator.

He has about 17 years of experience in municipal government, including two stints as village administrator in Robbins and a brief period as village administrator in Matteson. He also served as assistant village manager in Park Forest and as a special assistant administrator in Reno, Nev.

Haney served in the military for eight years in the Marine Corps and as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserves. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration.

His wife, Pamela, who is vice president of academic affairs for Moraine Valley College, and his two sons, Justin, 15, and Jacob, 12, were present to see him sworn in. The family currently lives in Matteson but is planning to move to Homewood.

Haney said he sought the Homewood position because it was “an opportunity to serve a progressive community.” He said Homewood has a reputation for professional governance.

Village Manager Jim Marino said Haney’s experience made him a good fit for Homewood’s needs.

“I selected Napoleon because he has broad experience in municipal government that encompasses human resources, labor relations, employee supervision, public works operations,” Marino said.  “He’s shown himself to be committed to public service and expressed a strong desire to be a part of our organization and our community.  His experience and knowledge will allow him to move into the position seamlessly and immediately contribute to the organization.”

Bond bid accepted

In other business, trustees approved a bid from Park Ridge Community Bank to purchase the village’s $1.66 million general obligation bond. The village will pay the bank $73,046 in interest, a rate of 1.95 percent, according to village Finance Director Dennis Bubenik.

The bank’s bid was the second lowest received by the village. The lowest bid, for $69,790, was rejected by trustees, a move staff recommended because the bidder would not lock in the rate until Aug. 8 and asked for $2,000 of the bond money to be used for its own legal fees.

Homewood was debt-free for a few weeks after recently paying off the previous bond, which was issued in 2014. Bubenik said the village also plans to pay off the new bond in about three years.

The money from the bond will help the village pay for its highest-priority capital expenses, Bubenik said, including a new engine for the fire department, new software for the finance department, roof work on the Homewood Science Center and other projects.

Bills
Trustees approved paying $401,038 in bills. Mayor Richard Hofeld noted that two items accounted for almost 57 percent of the total: curb replacement at $32,161 and employee health insurance at $195,173.

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