No more pensions for Naperville mayors
The next person other than George Pradel to occupy the seat of Naperville mayor will not be eligible for a pension from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
The city council voted unanimously Tuesday night to end participation in the pension fund for the position of mayor, effective immediately. The only reason Pradel will not stop being eligible to contribute toward and eventually receive retirement payments is because he is grandfathered in under old rules, according to Dwight Pancottine, acting human resources director.
Pradel, who is beginning his 20th year as Naperville's mayor, took the post when elected officials were required to work 600 hours a year to be pension-eligible. New rules the council cited in eliminating pension participation for the mayor's position now require proof that the position demands 1,000 hours of work a year.
The council took similar action March 4, ending pension participation for city council members after six of the eight failed to certify that fulfilling the duties of the position requires 1,000 hours of work a year.
Still to be discussed is the salary and benefits for the position of mayor after the spring 2015 election. Discussion on a proposal that could have set a base salary of $36,000 without health care benefits but including an additional $6,000 for serving as Naperville's liquor commissioner was postponed because a decision on salaries and health care availability for city council members was not yet reached.
The council is likely to take up compensation issues for the mayor and city council members again at its next meeting May 20.