Rolling Meadows manager's exit quickly OK'd

Rolling Meadows city council abruptly approved the resignation of its city manager after a closed session during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The council voted to approve an ordinance including, but not limited to the resignation of the city manager in lieu of severance or benefits, without explanation Tuesday.

After weeks of closed sessions on personnel and the absence of Rolling Meadows City Manager Sarah Phillips at the last two council meetings, details on Phillips' exit were unknown late Tuesday.

Phillips became city manager in December 2008 and previously served as city manager in Johnstown, Ohio and as an assistant public works director in Kentucky.

The city's website states that Phillips has extensive knowledge in economic development, downtown redevelopment and revitalization projects, planning and zoning, budgeting, public works and community relations.

Mayor Kenneth Nelson refused comment after the vote at Tuesday's meeting.

Before its closed session, the council examined a proposed 2.2 percent increase to its refuse rate, which will be revisited after language is rewritten to clarify that the increase is not due completely to increases passed along by Groot Recycling but also to stop the fund from operating at a deficit. The 2.2 percent rate increase equals an additional $0.62 monthly charge to a resident's utility bill for refuse, or $7.44 annually. The increase would become effective February 1.

Resident Dana Betzner approached the board in open session asking them to refrain from increasing its portion of the city's property taxes, saying that since she moved to Rolling Meadows in 2003 her taxes have gone up a total of 70 percent overall, factoring in property tax, water rate, sewer and refuse increases.

“Please don't make it worse. I can't afford it anymore,” Betzner said. “I will lose my house... (if forced to sell) hopefully I will get what I paid for.” I expect very few things from my government, Betzner said, police, fire, roads without potholes and to keep my home.”

City officials shot down a move that would have eased the city's portion of the property tax levy burden on its residents by increasing costs somewhere else the city's gasoline tax. A three-cent gasoline tax would have shaved down the city's portion of the property tax increase and would have been reviewed annually, officials said. The three-cent tax would be allocated evenly to the police and fire pension funds, officials said. The three-cent tax would be in addition to the current two-cent tax collected for the local roads fund.

“A two-cent change in the past didn't affect dealerships,” Third Ward Alderman Larry Buske said. “A lot of cities around here have (gasoline) tax, we just don't know about them. We've got to show residents we're trying to do something to hold taxes back.” The ordinance was not approved.