PLAINFIELD – After considerable discussion, the Plainfield Village Board voted Monday night to increase the salary of the village president.
The increase will begin with whomever wins the April 2017 election, when the salary will be bumped to $24,000 a year. The current village president’s salary is $20,000 a year.
While village staff receive annual 2.5 percent raises, the elected position of village president – also known as the mayor – can receive salary increases in a new term.
There was some debate about whether the village president salary increase is in line with village staff pay increases over the past 15 or 20 years. In 2005, the mayor’s position was compensated with $12,000 a year. Eight years before that, it was $6,800, Mayor Mike Collins said.
Trustee Jim Racich said the mayor is on call 24 hours a day, in a sense, as a face of the village. He said mayors of municipalities of similar size in the surrounding area have salaries three times as much as that of Plainfield’s mayor.
He also pointed out that trustees were not voting for whether Collins deserves a raise. Collins has not stated whether he will run for re-election.
Trustee Bill Lamb agreed with Racich, adding that Plainfield is not trying to keep up with other towns but that the mayor should be fairly compensated.
Trustee Ed O’Rourke voted “no.” Trustees Garrett Peck and Margie Bonuchi were absent.
The second-most discussed item Monday was whether to direct the village attorney to prepare an ordinance granting approval of a variance for a sign at St. Mary’s Immaculate Parish on Route 59, that would exceed the maximum height and area for a sign according to village code.
Lamb suggested that the board not vote on it because two trustees were not present and it’s a policy decision. He said business owners might see such a sign and request something similar from the village, which could bring debate of an overall policy change that the entire board would have to consider.
Racich said there was a quorum present so the board should vote, adding that the village’s planning and zoning board reviewed the case and held a public hearing. That board voted, 5-1, for approval, he said.
Ultimately, trustees voted, 3-1, Monday night – with Lamb voting “no” – to approve it.