Rolling Meadows secretary may avoid layoffs

As one of his last official proposals as Rolling Meadows city manager, Tom Melena asked the city council to exempt his secretary from upcoming layoffs on Tuesday.

His secretary earns $110,000 including salary and benefits. Melena explained his secretary could remain on the city's payroll but that she could work four days a week and earn $78,000.

Some council members said the secretary's salary was too high and postponed the decision until Jan 13 - three days before the city's layoffs will go into effect.

"On one hand we're laying people off and on the other hand we're paying secretaries $100,000," said Alderman John Pitzaferro. "It doesn't make sense."

On Dec. 2, the council approved a 2009 budget that included eight layoffs to come from the city's police, fire, public works, finance and administration departments. The council also backed adding a 5 percent electricity tax to dig the city out of debt. The extra tax will bring in $1.3 million annually and next year it will be used to pay off a $500,000 debt from 2007 and up to a $1 million debt expected from 2008. Rolling Meadows residents also will be paying more property taxes, since the council also approved a 7.4 percent property tax increase that will mostly fund police and fire pensions.

Melena - whose last official day will be Friday - said keeping his secretary will help the new city manager learn the ropes.

"It will ease the transition without going beyond the scope of what the council talked about," he said.

Melena has been the city manager for seven years. His last official day is Jan. 2, but he is leaving town early for a vacation.

On Tuesday, Mayor Ken Nelson presented him with a key to the city before swearing in the new city manager, Sarah Phillips.