Libertyville hopes salary bump will attract young, diverse village board candidates
The mayor and trustees on the Libertyville village board will be getting their first raises since 1996, but whether the increases will be incentives for new blood to seek elected office remains to be seen.
Village officials on Tuesday made official an idea that had been percolating since last May, when it was raised by Trustee Jay Justice, 81, a retired corporate executive, and advanced by Mayor Terry Weppler, 67.
The hope is that increasing the relatively modest salaries will help attract youth and diversity to a board Weppler has described at different times as being comprised mainly of "old retired people" and "old white men."
Weppler said his descriptions were not meant to be offensive or insulting but to make a point.
"(The pay raise) may make a difference to get some younger people on the board," he said. "It's important to have a variety of people."
Resident Melissa Phillips agreed.
"I think it sends a good message that you want to expand the make up of the board. I support it as a voter and a taxpayer," she said, adding that getting people to run is a tough sell.
The average age of Weppler and five trustees is 68. Longtime Trustee Donna Johnson has declined to give her age but is retired as a corporate attorney. Trustee Rich Moras is the youngest board member at 54.
Annual salaries for the six village trustees and village clerk will increase from $4,800 to $6,000, and pay for mayor will rise from $12,000 to $16,000.
Increases for the three trustee positions up for election next spring will take effect June 1, 2019. Raises for the other three trustee spots, clerk and mayor won't happen during the current terms of those offices, which have two years remaining.
"Even the increase from $12,000 to $16,000 is underpaid by any standard for the time the mayor puts in," said Trustee Pete Garrity.
Weppler doesn't expect to run for re-election in 2021 and won't benefit from the increase.
The authorizing vote was 4-2 because trustee pay was included in the same ordinance. Garrity and Trustee Pat Carey voted against, saying compensation wasn't an incentive for them to serve.
Carey, the village's former police chief, said he earned a good salary during his tenure and with his pension considers it "almost an embarrassment" to be paid as a trustee as well.
"I think we all would agree we do this (for) dedication to the community not for the compensation," Johnson said.
Moras added, "Whether it's $4,800 or $6,000 for any of us here it wouldn't make a difference." He said the salary is meant to attract and retain quality people but waiting 21 years to increase it was too long.
Can it make a difference?
Lisa Roti, a member of the Libertyville Junior Woman's Club, said interest in public service has declined.
"We have very low civic engagement. I try to recruit people for many different things, and it's hard," she said. "You could raise it (the salary) to anything you want, but I couldn't get a friend to run."
Gary Franzen, who lost a bid for a trustee seat in 2017, noted that wasn't the case for local school boards and didn't think a pay increase will attract candidates.
"I don't think a lot of people will run for the village board and I don't know why," he said. "Maybe people are content with what you're doing."
The dwindling of clubs like the Jaycees, Kiwanis and Lions is a general indicator how things are, Weppler added.
"It's unfortunately a sign of the times. People don't volunteer as much as they used to. It's sad," he said.