Thursday, October 30, 2008

Lakemoor officials approve salary increase

From the Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:
Lakemoor officials approve salary increase
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

LAKEMOOR – The Lakemoor Village Board has approved salary increases that will raise the village president’s pay by $4,800 after the spring 2009 election.

The village president's annual salary will be $12,000 starting in May 2009. The board also approved raises for the village clerk and village trustees for the first time since July 2000.

"That's a huge job," said Trustee Ralph Brindise, who voted in favor of the increases. "[The president] is going to meetings all the time; there's a lot of stuff the president does."

Brindise and trustees Kimberly Beach, Colin McIntyre and Robert Koehl voted in favor of the salary increases. Trustees Kathleen Lennon and Nick Weber were absent from the Oct. 23 meeting.

The village clerk's salary will increase to $150 a month from $100 a month. The clerk also will receive $150 for each Village Board meeting she attends and $150 for each special board meeting or public hearing attended. Previously, the clerk earned $100 each time she attended a regular board meeting, special board meeting or public hearing.

Village trustees who are elected after April 2009 will earn $150 for each board meeting they attend, which is a $50 increase from their current rate. Trustees also will earn $150 for attending at least one committee meeting a month and $150 for each special board meeting they attend. Previously, trustees earned $100 for attending at least one committee meeting and $100 for each special board meeting.

The raises will not affect officials who already are in office unless they run and are re-elected.

Brindise said the increases were modest.

"I don't think anybody does this for the money," he said. "It's done for civic pride."

.Current salaries:

Village President: $7,200 annually, plus $100 for each special village board meeting or public hearing president attends.

Village Clerk: $100 each month, plus $100 for each village board meeting clerk attends and $100 for each special board meeting or public hearing clerk attends.

Trustee: $100 for each village board meeting, plus $100 for attending at least one committee meeting each month and $100 for each special board meeting trustee attends.

Salaries after Spring 2009 election:

Village President: $12,000 annually, plus $150 for each special village board meeting or public hearing president attends.

Village Clerk: $150 each month, plus $150 for each village board meeting clerk attends and $150 for each special board meeting or public hearing clerk attends.

Trustee: $150 for each village board meeting, plus $150 for attending at least one committee meeting each month and $150 for each special board meeting trustee attends
.