Des Plaines city manager in line for $22,000 raise
Des Plaines City Manager Mike Bartholomew could be in line for a $22,000 pay boost, though he says his salary is still below the average of what his peers make.
The city council Monday is expected to consider increasing Bartholomew's base salary from $157,412 to $179,412, according to city documents released Wednesday.
Bartholomew said a survey city staff did of 34 nearby communities found the average base salary for a city or village manager is $187,000.
"I know (the salary increase) makes headlines and I get it, but I think if somebody looks and does a fair comparison of what city or village managers make, I feel very comfortable," Bartholomew said. "I think everyone will be happy - Des Plaines is getting a good deal and I'm getting a good deal."
Bartholomew also said he doesn't get a car allowance or take deferred compensation, unlike counterparts in other towns.
The wage increase, which would be retroactive to April 21, 2014, is essentially two years' worth of pay raises in one. Bartholomew undergoes annual performance evaluations with the city council behind closed doors, though there was no talk of a wage increase last year.
The city election in April and seating of new aldermen delayed consideration of a wage adjustment until now, Bartholomew said.
The manager has met with the city's eight aldermen and Mayor Matt Bogusz a few times in closed session this summer as part of the annual evaluation. The mayor wrote in a city memo released Wednesday that the council reached consensus on the wage increase.
In November 2013, Bartholomew got his first raise as city manager - a 5 percent increase that was approved on a 5-4 vote of the council, with Bogusz casting a tiebreaking vote. Other aldermen had favored a 3 percent raise.
Bartholomew, who was hired by the city in December 2010 as economic development director, was promoted to city manager in April 2012.
On Wednesday, he pointed to some recent accomplishments, including renegotiation of a waste hauling contract that will save the city $1 million, securing an alternative water source with the Northwest Water Commission to save $10,000 a day, following through on a rebranding campaign, and rewriting business licensing rules and building codes.
Bartholomew, tasked with handling day-to-day city operations, does not have an end date to his contract with the city council, which has the power to hire or fire a city manager at any time.