DeKALB – The city of DeKalb is without a finance director after Laura Pisarcik resigned the same week city Manager Anne Marie Gaura announced financial consultants would review the city’s financial policies and procedures.
Gaura said Pisarcik resigned on March 7 and her employment with the city ended the same day. Gaura acknowledged there is a separation agreement between the city and Pisarcik, but declined to disclose the details.
“She resigned her position to pursue other opportunities,” Gaura said.
Mayor John Rey declined to comment, saying Gaura was the spokeswoman on the matter.
The finance director in DeKalb is responsible for monitoring the city’s cash flow by overseeing purchasing, accounts payable and accounts receivable, water billing and tax collection, and preparing the city’s budget.
Pisarcik started with the city as finance director in January 2011. Her salary was $97,948 with an additional $42,068 in benefits, making her total compensation $140,016, Gaura said.
Pisarcik’s resignation came two days after Gaura’s March 5 announcement that she wanted outside experts to review the city’s financial and purchasing procedures and budget process as part of her financial responsibility initiative. At the time, Gaura noted that some purchases in excess of $20,000 had been made without City Council approval in accordance with policy, and said that “certain policies” needed revisions.
Gaura has already contracted with GovTemps USA LLC to do the financial review, but the council must vote to authorize spending up to $45,000 for the services.
Gaura said Pisarcik’s resignation and her call for a financial review were unrelated.
Assistant City Manager Rudy Espiritu has served as interim finance director since March 10. He receives an additional $205 a week for serving in the interim position.
Officials do not expect to start a search for a new finance director until the next fiscal year starts on July 1, which will coincide with the city receiving results from a pay, compensation and classification study.
Gaura she did not foresee any interruptions to the city’s budget process because of the finance director vacancy.
DeKalb officials created the finance director position in 2010 based on the recommendations from financial consulting firm Executive Partners Inc.