Buffalo Grove extends village manager's contract

Buffalo Grove Village Manager Dane Bragg is a hot commodity, but despite drawing interest from other suburbs, the village's top administrator will remain in town for at least another 3½ years.

The village board Monday gave Bragg a contract extension through autumn 2022 that hikes his salary by 3 percent a year. His current salary is $267,310.

Bragg, who has been with the village for nearly nine years, also can receive cash in lieu of unused vacation time for up to 10 days above what was accumulated the previous year.

"I am very comfortable knowing that our village is in good hands going forward, at least through 2022," Trustee Jeffrey Berman said.

Trustee Lester Ottenheimer III said the village of Glenview had been pursuing Bragg.

"I think Dane has done a superb job of managing the village, in terms of economic development, in terms of the staff that he has hired, and with the fact that the village is fiscally strong," he said.

Bragg has overseen the development of the former Berenesa Plaza property into the Woodman's Food Market. Also on his watch was the development of the village's industrial area, as well as the planning for the Lake-Cook Corridor and the Prairie View Metra station area.

"I think it's a great community. We have a lot of great assets," Bragg said, adding that the village has become more service-oriented and more collaborative with other units of government.

The 3-percent increase is a relatively modest increase, compared to what Bragg has received in the past. Last year, he received a nearly 15 percent salary hike, along with a $15,000 bonus.

"The board and I have had a great working relationship," Bragg said.

"A lot of baby boomer managers are retired or retiring and not as many in my cohort have 10-15 years of experience," he added, creating a high demand for experienced managers.