Despite the long meeting back on May 5th, the Danville City Council finally made two major salary decisions in a Tuesday night (June 2nd) meeting that took just over an hour. Effective with the new terms beginning after the Spring of 2027 election; the treasurer’s salary will increase from $65,000 to $90,000; and the mayor’s salary from $110,000 to $130,000.
The vote on the treasurer’s salary went 12-2, with Aldermen Tricia Teague and Jon Cooper voting “no.” The vote on the mayor’s salary was closer, at 8-6. “No” votes were from Jeleel Jones, Jon Cooper, Ed Butler, Barry Johnson, and mayoral candidates Doug Ahrens and Tricia Teague.
Mayor Williams (center), Alderwoman Teague (center) and Alderman Ahrens (second from right) state their positions.
The extra wild card in all this is whether the treasurer can become an appointed rather than elected position, how it can be done, and when it might be done. Corporation Council Leon Parker says Danville, as a home rule community, could do it via referendum from the public or ordinance from the City Council. In addition, if it were done by referendum during next spring’s April 6th election, the change could not take place until after the treasurer’s term elected that same night is done four years later. But it could also be placed on this coming November’s election ballot, giving it time to take effect prior to the April 6th election.
(1st Picture) During “public comment,” Cindy Nacco states her case for Danville having a City Manager “that can be recalled if they don’t perform.” (And also mentioning an abandoned home at 710 Grant that she considers a danger to the community). (2nd Picture) Corporation Counsel Leon Parker explains Danville’s options on making the treasurer an appointed position.
It should also be mentioned that if the treasurer’s position becomes appointed rather than elected, the salary change approved Tuesday night for an elected treasurer becomes void. And instead, the appointed treasurer would be paid, as Alderwoman Teague pointed out, “according to the city wage chart.”
So what happens now? Mayor Williams believes the Council will indeed look into making the change by ordinance first; by bringing it to both the Public Safety and Public Works Committees and seeing what the reaction is. Mayor Williams says, no matter how it’s done, he does believe the treasurer should be appointed.
AUDIO: The function that they perform is so critical to this community. They can literally put the city, and thus the citizens, in dire straits if you don’t have the right person in that role.
Mayoral candidate and Alderman Doug Ahrens stated that he wants the treasurer to be appointed; but just in cast the change is never made, he believes the salary for an elected treasurer should be higher for the importance of the position, so he voted for it.
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AUDIO: That is correct. And that is why I did that; is because, you know, there may be (a case) that the public comes out and decides they don’t agree with that.
For the mayoral salary increase; Williams campaigned for it, candidates Ahrens and Teague voted against it. In pointing out just a couple factors; Williams, not committed as yet for the next election, feels the higher salary is needed to attract the right future candidates; Teague says it’s too big of an increase; Ahrens says the salary should be lowered, and be considered a “servant position” for those with solid business experience.
AUDIO: (Williams) But are you going to get other people who have better salaries, willing to consider this role, if the salary is unnaturally suppressed? (Teague) I had proposed that both of them (mayor and treasurer) get a raise of $5,000 per year, annually, because that’s what I thought would palatable to the citizens, because that’s where we currently are now. (Ahrens) They’ve experienced the real world. We need business people involved, in the City Council and in elected positions.
Next up for the Danville City Council; the Public Works Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 9th.
