By Jason Crane
At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday, through the Zoom video conferencing platform, included was a discussion by the Aurora City Council about an increase in compensation for the mayor and aldermen.
Mayor Richard Irvin recused himself from the discussion to avoid any influence.
Ward 4 alderman Bill Donnell said he had some concerns over the ordinance and asked for it to be placed on unfinished business.
Ward 10 alderman Judd Lofchie said, with all the things going on in the world, people are hurting, now is not a good time to give ourselves a raise and said he will not be supporting it.
Alderman Ed Bugg, said for the aldermen these numbers are for 2023 which is three years from now. “I know we are all praying COVID is way in our rearview mirror by the time 2023 rolls around.”
• Placed on unfinished business for further discussion at the October 27 full City Council meeting was an ordinance setting the compensation of the mayor to be elected in 2021 in accordance with the Illinois Municipal Code and the Local Government Officer Compensation Act.
City of Aurora government documents show that since at least 1848, Illinois has constitutionally required that the compensation of public officers be established prior to the commencement of their term of office. Section 9(b) of Article VII of the present Illinois Constitution expressly provides that “[a]n increase or decrease in the salary of an elected officer of any unit of local government shall not take effect during the term for which that officer is elected. For this reason no local elected official may ever vote to increase (or decrease) his or her own compensation, only the compensation of the person elected by the public to hold the office at the start of the next term.
The proposed levels of compensation were developed and recommended by the Finance Committee. Other than to provide historical information, information about comparable compensation in other communities and the legal considerations involved, staff members offered no direction or advice to the Finance Committee as to whether and what changes to elected official compensation should be made.
At its special meeting of October 8, 2020, and again on October 15, 2020, the Finance Committee recommended that effective June 1, 2021, the salary for the newly-elected mayor should increase by 2.5%, and then by 2.5% in the next two succeeding years before finally increasing by 5% for the remaining year in the term as follows:
From June 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022 – $162,328 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023 – $166,386.00 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024 – $170,546.00 (2.5%)
From June 1, 2024, and continuing thereafter – $179,073.00 (5%);
Additionally, when accepting a vehicle allowance in lieu of a dedicated City-owned or leased vehicle, the mayor’s vehicle allowance will be fixed at $534 per month.
• Placed on unfinished business for further discussion at the October 27 full City Council meeting was an ordinance setting the compensation of the aldermen elected in and after 2021 in accordance with the Illinois Municipal Code and the Local Government Officer Compensation Act.
At its special meeting of October 8, 2020, and again on October 15, 2020, the Finance Committee recommended increasing the salaries of the aldermen on a 3%-3%-3%-5% structure, effective with the inauguration of aldermen in 2023 as follows:
From June 1, 2023, through May 31, 2024 – $22,971.00 (3%)
From June 1, 2024, through May, 31, 2025 – $23,660.00 (3%)
From June 1, 2025, though May 31, 2026 – $24,370.00 (3%)
From June 1, 2026, and continuing thereafter – $25,588.00 (5%)
Effective June 1, 2023, the $75 stipend aldermen receive for attending official meetings of the City Council and its committees will increase to $90.
• Placed on unfinished business for further discussion at the October 27 full City Council meeting was an ordinance amending O20-028 granting additional time for compliance of the special use for a cannabis dispensing facility at 35 N. Broadway that was granted on April 28, 2020.
The City of Aurora granted Bloom Holdings I, LLC, a special use permit for a for a cannabis dispensing facility at 35 N. Broadway by Ordinance O20-028 on April 28, 2020, that contained conditions. Specifically, the ordinance granting the special use permit states:
The Special Use permit shall terminate and the classification of the DC Downtown Core District shall be in full force and effect without further action by the City Council if said property 1) fails to obtain conditional registration license for Cannabis Dispensing Facility by the State, within one hundred eighty (180) days of the authorization of the permit, or 2) fails to commence its use as a Cannabis Dispensing Facility within one (1) year of the authorization of the permit, or 3) ceases its use as a Cannabis Dispensing Facility for a period greater than thirty (30) days.
Due to the shutdowns caused by COVID-19, the state delayed the deadline for issuing the cannabis dispensing licenses. Just recently, the State has delayed awarding licenses again to give applicants a second chance at qualifying following complaints about the scoring process. At this time, governor J. B. Pritzker has declined to give a date on when the license will be awarded and issued.
The Aurora City Council gave consent to the following agenda items to be approved at the October 27 full City Council meeting:
• Consent was given to a resolution requesting approval to utilize community development block grant funds for TinkRworks LLC, 21 W 2nd St #300, Hinsdale for delivery of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) training to 634 of Aurora’s underserved youth in the amount not to exceed $100,000.00.
City of Aurora government documents show TinkRworks is a provider of K-8 STEAM projects designed to allow students to foster a love of creating, enhance problem-solving skills, reinforce and expand on concepts & ideas taught in schools, inspire curiosity, and encourage self-expression.
• Consent was given to an ordinance granting revisions to the special use permit for a social service agencies, charitable organizations, health-related facilities, and similar uses when not operated for pecuniary profit use on the property located at 680 S. River Street.
The petitioner, Hesed House is requesting approval of a special use revision for a social service agencies, charitable organizations, health related facilities, and similar uses when not operated for pecuniary profit use on the property at 680 S. River Street which includes a revision to allow the property to be used for an emergency shelter accommodating overnight guests.
• Consent was given to a resolution requesting approval of a final plat for lots 1B and 3 of West Ridge Corporate Center Resubdivision Phase III located at 801 Bilter Road.
• Consent was given to a resolution requesting approval of a final plan revision for lots 1B and 3 of West Ridge Corporate Center Resubdivision Phase III located at 801 Bilter Road for a warehouse, distribution and storage services use.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing Trotsky Investigative Polygraph, Inc. as the provider for services of pre-employment polygraph assessments through December 31, 2020.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing Stanard and Associates as the provider for services of pre-employment psychological assessments through December 31, 2020.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the purchase of one Zoll X series cardiac monitor/defibrillator and accessories using the Silver Cross Purchasing Cooperative in the amount of $28,718.22 for the Aurora Fire Department from Zoll Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, MA.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the execution of a sales tax reimbursement agreement with Lindsay Windows Illinois, LLC.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing execution of a wage and insurance rollover agreement between the city of Aurora and Local 3298, Council 31 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL/CIO January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing execution of a rollover agreement between the city of Aurora and Local 1514, Council 31 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL/CIO January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
• A Public Hearing regarding the creation of the proposed Fox Valley Mall Area Tax Increment Finance District is set to be approved at the October 27 full City Council meeting.
• Consent was given to a resolution authorizing the mayor to permit City staff members to apply for an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant, for Montgomery Road Multi-Use Path Extension-Middlebury Drive to IL Route 59 Project, to extend the Montgomery Road Multi-Use Path, from Middlebury Drive to IL Route 59 and to reserve local funding share for both engineering and construction, if grant is awarded to the City.
Final approval is set to be made at the Aurora City Council meeting October 27th.