Manager's Report — 17 Jul 2026: Village Manager Announces Retirement After 36 Years
Village Manager Cara Pavlicek announced her retirement this week after five years with Northbrook and a 36-year public-service career; she will remain in the role through late September 2026. Construction and infrastructure work continues across several active projects in the village.
Key items
- Village Manager Pavlicek to retire — After five years leading the village and a 36-year public-service career, Cara Pavlicek will leave her role in late September 2026, triggering a leadership transition.
- Marc Fainman named new Chief of Police — Fainman, a 20-year Northbrook Police veteran currently serving as Deputy Chief, steps into the top role following Chief Ustich's July 1 retirement.
- Northbrook Grand Prix on July 23 — Downtown road closures begin as early as 5 a.m. and last until approximately 11 p.m., affecting drivers in the Central Business District for the full day.
- Cedar Lane ADA parking space closing week of July 20 — Sanitary sewer work near Village Hall will temporarily close the ADA parking space on Cedar Lane, affecting accessibility for anyone visiting the area.
- Charlemagne Subdivision concrete patching starts August 3 — Residents on eight streets in the Charlemagne Subdivision should expect traffic delays and lane reductions from August through November 2026.
Full agenda — click any item to expand
Upcoming Meetings
There are no Village Board meetings scheduled for the coming week.
Activity Reports
The weekly Police Bulletin has been updated for the week ending July 17, 2026. Community Relations Department representatives and Counseling Services staff attended the Northbrook Public Library Wellness Fair to present and discuss village services with residents.
Employee News
Village Manager retirement: Cara Pavlicek will retire following five years of service to Northbrook, capping a 36-year career in public service. She will remain in her role through late September 2026.
New Chief of Police: Marc Fainman has been named the village's next Chief of Police, succeeding Chief John Ustich, who retired July 1. Fainman currently serves as Deputy Chief of Field Operations and brings more than 20 years of experience with the Northbrook Police Department.
Save the Date
Northbrook Grand Prix — Thursday, July 23 | Northbrook Downtown Amateur and elite cyclists from around the world will race through downtown Northbrook's streets as part of the Chicago Grit series. Road closures will begin between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on July 23; all roadways are expected to reopen by approximately 11 p.m. All commuter lots will remain open throughout the event, but drivers in the Central Business District should allow extra travel time. Local restaurants and shops will be open during the event.
Project Updates
Cedar Lane Storm & Sanitary Sewer Work (July 13–24): As part of Greenbriar School's Build 28 initiative, Reed Construction is performing storm and sanitary sewer improvements along Cedar Lane near Village Hall. Storm sewer work at the southeast corner of Greenbriar School was expected to wrap up by July 17. Beginning the week of July 20, sanitary sewer work will shift to the northwest corner of Village Hall, temporarily closing the ADA parking space. Backfilling, grading, and landscape restoration are scheduled for July 23–24. Two-way traffic on Cedar Lane will be maintained throughout. Contact: Wally Maynard, 847-272-4711 or Wally.Maynard@northbrook.il.us.
FY 2026–27 Concrete Street Patching Improvements: Beginning August 3, contractor Schroeder & Schroeder, Inc. will begin concrete panel replacement, storm structure adjustments, and parkway sod restoration in the Charlemagne Subdivision. Streets affected include Brittany Road, Charlemagne Drive, Normandy Lane, Dauphine Avenue, Bordeaux Drive, Versailles Drive, Bernay Drive, and Anjou Drive. Work is scheduled for completion by November 2026. Residents can sign up for project updates via the Village's NotifyMe system. Contact: Luis Uriostegui, 847-664-4118 or Luis.Uriostegui@northbrook.il.us.
2026 Water Main Improvements — Grace Road: This week the contractor mobilized equipment and materials to Grace Road and installed parkway tree protection. On-street parking is prohibited during construction; residents are encouraged to park on nearby streets. Police have been notified that overnight parking on nearby streets may be needed. Contact: Michael Weller, 847-664-4132 or Michael.Weller@northbrook.il.us.
Fleet Maintenance Garage Construction: Crews continued installing concrete masonry units (CMUs) for the north elevator and continued geothermal drilling. Electrical rough-in is underway in the garage area. Upcoming work includes installation of the concrete pad for the ComEd transformer, restoration of the concrete office floor, and underground plumbing rough-in.
Fire Station 11 Construction: Crews continued rebar installation, connected new building water service lines, and continued concrete placement for the foundation, which is expected to continue through the following week. Beginning July 20, crews will begin installing the building's grounding and lightning protection system around the perimeter.
2026 Asphalt Street Rehabilitation Program: The program is substantially complete. Final landscaping restoration, including new sod, is scheduled for early September. Grace Road will receive its final asphalt surface after the 2026 Water Main Improvements Project concludes in September. Contact: Jim Huff, 847-272-4711 or James.Huff@northbrook.il.us.
Grand Prix Traffic Control: Public Works coordinated with Police and Fire to implement the traffic control plan for the July 23 Grand Prix. Message boards were deployed along the racecourse earlier this week alerting motorists to road closures beginning between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. on July 23. All temporary traffic control devices will be removed and roadways will reopen by approximately 11 p.m.
Development Updates: The Village website maintains year-to-date listings of 2026 commercial building permits, new 2026 business licenses, development applications under review, and new developments and construction projects in Northbrook.