Stephanie Dawkins

Geneva will have a new city administrator and police chief following retirements of current officials and the approval of successors.

City Administrator Mary McKittrick and Police Chief Steve Mexin recently announced they would step down from respective roles following eight years of service apiece.

Their right-hand co-workers will step into new roles following City Council approval.

McKittrick will retire effective June 10 after working more than three decades in the public sector, the last 17 with Geneva.

She publicly announced her retirement last week and the City Council approved Mayor Ken Burns selection of Stephanie Dawkins, currently the city’s assistant city administrator, as McKittrick’s successor.

“Mary’s stewardship of Geneva’s mission and vision was instrumental in building a culture of excellence,” Mayor Kevin Burns said. “Her contributions were the result of her selfless work ethic and personal commitment to serving the best interests of the citizens and businesses who call Geneva home. Geneva is better off because of Mary’s tenure as city administrator, and the city is well positioned to embrace the opportunities and address any challenges that come our way.”

Police Commander Eric Passarelli, meanwhile, was approved by the Council as the Geneva’s next police chief.

The 22-year veteran of the Geneva Police Department will be replacing Police Chief Steve Mexin, who announced his retirement effective May 6.

“Commander Passarelli has earned the respect and trust of his teammates in the Police Department and the confidence of the community,” said Burns, who brought the appointment forward for City Council consideration. “I have no doubt he will carry on the legacy of his predecessors to ensure Geneva’s finest remain the most respected police force around.”

As Commander of Police Services since 2008, Passarelli established the Police Department prescription drug disposal program and initiated the implementation of the department’s electronic crash reporting technology.

His current duties involve coordinating police services for special events, oversight responsibilities for the police records division, parking enforcement, background investigations of new City employees, liquor license renewals, fleet maintenance, speed trailer requests, traffic speed studies and serving as a secondary public information officer.

Passarelli joined the Geneva Police Department in 1994 and spent the next nine years in the patrol division as a field training officer, evidence technician and accident investigator. In 2005, he was promoted to Patrol Sergeant where he held the roles of field-training co-coordinator and Taser instructor.

Passarelli previously served with the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office and spent 14 years as a volunteer firefighter/emergency medical technician for the Bristol-Kendall Fire Protection District.

Dawkins joined Geneva staff in 2008 as assistant city administrator/director of administrative services, She is responsible for all operations in the Finance, Human Resources and Information Technologies divisions.

One of her many accomplishments includes the successful implementation of the city’s New World Enterprise software. The system offers utility customers the ability to pay their bills and review their accounts online and provides information sharing among City departments, better record keeping and report writing.

Dawkins also is credited with enhancing the already successful Student Government program, which gives students a behind-the-scenes look at local government operations twice a year, by adding a Student Government Committee. Participating teens meet once a month as a group at City Hall to discuss real issues impacting Geneva.

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— Geneva names new city administrator, police chief —