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Ex-Amrich foe Ed McGinty named Island Lake treasurer

Reeling from the discovery of a significant pension shortfall, Island Lake officials have hired a treasurer to help oversee the village’s finances.

Longtime resident and former trustee candidate Ed McGinty was tapped for the job.

An accountant who once served on the village’s police pension board, McGinty was part of the election slate that ran against Mayor Charles Amrich and his allies this past April.

McGinty lost the race for three seats on the village board by a wide margin.

Village trustees unanimously approved McGinty’s appointment Thursday night. The board voted to create the treasurer position earlier in the night’s meeting at village hall.

Trustee Chuck Cermak praised McGinty’s financial background.

“He has a great mind for numbers,” Cermak said.

McGinty will oversee the work of longtime Finance Director John Little, help ensure vendors are paid and perform other tasks, officials said.

McGinty couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

His hiring was prompted by an auditor’s discovery that nearly $389,000 was missing from the village’s police pension fund. The money had been collected in tax revenue by the village between 2010 and this past spring but not deposited in the account.

The cash likely was used to pay other bills, officials have said.

The problem developed during Debbie Herrmann’s tenure as mayor. Since Amrich took office in May, obligations to the fund have been met, according to the audit from George Roach Associates.

Amrich has said he and the trustees will figure out a way to make the pension fund whole.

Amrich supported the creation of the treasurer post and McGinty’s appointment.

“(It’s) another set of eyes over the financial well-being of the village,” Amrich said.

McGinty will be paid $1,200 a year and $75 for each board meeting he attends.

McGinty ran on Herrmann’s slate this past spring. He broke step with Herrmann late in the campaign after a political flier and a robocall smearing Amrich were released to the public.

McGinty was among the people who criticized the mailer and the call, saying they were produced without his approval.

Trustee Mark Beeson, who ran with Amrich, said McGinty’s hiring shows the mayor and his allies are willing to reach across the political aisle.

“(He’s) the best man for the job,” Beeson said of McGinty.

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