Should Round Lake Beach clerk position change?

Round Lake Beach Mayor Rich Hill had a decision to make when former clerk Sylvia Valadez resigned to become a trustee in March.

He could have found a willing resident to take her place, then let the person run for the post in a general election. Or, he could have shuffled the deck and asked voters to change the position forever.

Hill decided to leave it to residents to decide whether they want to continue electing a village clerk, or if it should become an appointed administrative position.

"We looked at what the elected clerk was doing on a day-to-day basis and realized the deputy clerks are handling 99 percent of the work already," he said. "Plus, having a current employee working as an appointed clerk will have time for schooling and training seminars for the job because they are already a full-time employee."

He added the village will also save money on the position.

An elected clerk now makes $10,000 annually, but if the referendum is approved, a village employee would receive a $2,000 stipend annually to handle those duties.

"It's mostly a record keeping position, not a decision making position where the clerk makes policy for residents," Hill said. "It just doesn't make sense to not have it an appointed position. So, I think it's a good idea to make it an appointed position and give voters one less thing to worry about on the ballot."

A "no" vote Nov. 4 would mean voters want to continue to elect the clerk every four years; a "yes" vote would make the position appointed by the mayor.

Currently, the job is vacant, pending the outcome of the referendum. The appointed deputy clerk has assumed the role for now, Hill said.

In 2006, Vernon Hills residents voted to make the village clerk an appointed position.

At the time, Vernon Hills officials said they favored the switch because the job has become more specialized and clerical in nature.

"If voters agree, then we'll run using deputy clerks, like we are now," Hill said. "I'm hoping people vote 'yes.' It's better for the community this way."