Des Plaines manager to get controversial $22,000 raise
Des Plaines City Manager Mike Bartholomew is getting a $22,000 raise, though approval of the controversial pay boost didn't come without verbal sparring Monday by aldermen and the mayor.
It was ultimately Mayor Matt Bogusz who cast the tiebreaking vote at a council meeting to give Bartholomew the 14 percent raise retroactive to April 21, 2014.
Bartholomew's base salary will increase from $157,412 to $179,412.
Four aldermen who voted against the 14 percent raise favored a 4 percent raise retroactive to April 2015.
It mirrors a city council vote in November 2013 when aldermen were similarly split on how much of a raise to give Bartholomew. But at that time, they disagreed about whether to award a 3 percent or 5 percent raise; Bogusz broke a tie to give the larger raise.
On Monday, supporters of the $22,000 pay increase said Bartholomew's base salary ranked second from the bottom on a list of 34 manager salaries in nearby communities.
Alderman Don Smith called that ranking "an embarrassment" for a city of Des Plaines' size, population and budget.
"It is a large raise, and politically it might be a little difficult, but if you're going to hire and retain good employees, you need to compensate them fairly," Smith said.
Opponents said the raise was excessive, especially in the current economic climate, and they received calls and emails from constituents who shared that view.
Alderman Dick Sayad expressed frustration that Bartholomew moved out of the city when the council rescinded its residency requirement for top city employees.
Sayad also doesn't want Bartholomew to leave work before city hall closes at 5 p.m. Bartholomew said he gets to work at 6:30 a.m. and rarely leaves before 3:30 p.m.
Sayad's criticisms elicited pointed responses from Bartholomew and Bogusz.
"To imply the citizens aren't getting their time - that's disingenuous," Bartholomew said.
"Do you really think this is the right way to treat an employee?" Bogusz told Sayad. "I'm a bit embarrassed by the way you're acting."
"I'm embarrassed about what you do, too," Sayad replied.
Smith, Mike Charewicz, Jack Robinson and Denise Rodd voted for the 14 percent raise, while Sayad, Jim Brookman, Malcolm Chester and Patti Haugeberg voted against it.
Bartholomew, who was hired by the city in December 2010 as economic development director, was promoted to city manager in April 2012.