Naperville council members can give up 2.7% pay raise

Naperville City Councilman Grant Wehrli is the first to reject the 2.7 percent cost of living adjustment due to council members but he's likely not the last.

All eight Naperville City Council members, who make between $11,413 and $11,687 per year, are in line for a 2.7 percent increase, according to the city code, which matches pay rate with the rate of inflation for the Chicago area. In addition, six councilmen take the approximately $20,000 annual health benefits and receive about $100 per month for Internet and cellphone usage.

Mayor George Pradel, who makes $28,533, including his liquor commission salary, is also in line for the increase.

Any council members wishing to reject the increase, which would be retroactive to their May 20 paycheck, must submit a letter of waiver to the finance department by June 8.

City Manager Doug Krieger confirmed Wehrli is the only council member to have turned in paperwork.

Newly elected Councilman Steve Chirico, who entered the position at the full salary of $11,687 because he was not on the council to decline the raise last year, said he also intends to forgo the 2.7 percent or $315 increase.

“We've got employees still working under the conditions of a pay freeze so there's no way I could accept the increase,” Chirico said. “It's a small amount but taking it would not be the right thing to do.”

Councilwoman Judy Brodhead, who earns $11,413 because she declined last year's increase said she's leaning toward declining it this year too.

“I haven't thought much about it but I think I'll end up turning in the form to decline the ($308) increase,” she said.

Other councilmen, however, say declining such a minimal increase is a shallow gesture, especially when councilmen continue to collect the health benefits and the monthly stipend.

Councilman Bob Fieseler, who declines to take the nearly $20,000 annual health benefits said the gesture (of declining the raise) has lost its “grandstanding value” now that he believes the public has a better understanding of the health care perks and the stipend.

“I think it's a lot less significant than it was last year because that was a badge of honor to do it but I think that grandstanding value has diminished because the community is aware of all of the components of the compensation,” Fieseler said. “(Supreme Court Justice) Felix Frankfurter said best that ‘sunshine is the best disinfectant.'”

Councilman Paul Hinterlong, who declined the 2.4 percent increase last year, said he's not “making the same mistake this year.”

“I'm keeping my raise. I declined it last year and then I found out how many people take the $20,000 annual health care. So they're making $32,000 off the taxpayers and I'm making $12,000 and they're going to complain about me taking the salary boost?” Hinterlong said. “I also declined my cellphone and Internet usage stipend because we can pay for that from our (salary). I'm the cheapest councilman they've got and the best bang for the buck.”

Councilmen and Pradel have until June 8 to officially waive the increase.