Downers Grove Council OKs Police, Staff Raises Despite Objections

Downers Grove officials approved salary increases for police and two senior employees Tuesday, despite objections over the village's compensation policies.

The village council voted 4-3 to approve a 2-percent raise and a $10,000 bonus for Village Manager Dave Fieldman, bringing his annual salary from $160,000 to $163,200.

Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a 3-percent raise for Village Attorney Enza Petrarca that brings her annual compensation to about $128,000, according to village records.

The measures extend severance pay for both employees—Fieldman by three months and Petrarca by six.

The council also voted to approve a new three-year agreement between the village of Downers Grove and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council, effective May 1, 2012, through April 30, 2015. The measure passed 6-1.

The agreement—ratified by the union Jan. 28—authorizes an annual salary increase of 2 percent for 2012 and 2013, and 1 percent for 2014.

The raises were met with opposition from commissioners who took issue with the way the village determines compensation for its employees.

Commissioner Bob Barnett voted against all three measures. He praised the performance of Fieldman, Petrarca and the police force, but said he wants the village create a more clearly defined process for creating compensation plans.

Pay raises should be tied to performance, but should also take into account the current financial challenges facing the state, he said.

"Randomly determining compensation adjustments without clear connections to performance metrics or binding our residents to future cost increases without the protections I just mentioned when two-thirds of our total revenue is beyond our control seems foolish to me," Barnett said.

During closed session meetings earlier this year, commissioners unanimously agreed on a plan that included pay raises and "a commitment from this body to improve our process," Barnett said. Although the plan failed to make it out of closed session, Barnett said he remains hopeful that the council will make good on its promise.

Commissioner Sean Patrick Durkin also objected to the raises for Fieldman and Petrarca, but voted in favor of the police contract. Like Barnett, Durkin raised concerns about the village's review and compensation process.

"I want to see a defined plan like we have in the private world, and I know you can do a defined plan at the local level, at the municipal level, at the village manager level," Durkin said. 

Without a clearly defined process, it's possible bonuses and compensation are too low, he added.

"There is no way that any of us can sit up here and defend to the public why we are giving a $10,000 bonus when individual who has saved more than $7 million for this community," Durkin said. "I think Mr. Fieldman is being shortchanged."

Waldack also opposed Fieldman's raise, but supported increases for Petrarca and the police union. He did not elaborate on his objection during the meeting.

Fieldman last received a raise in April 2012, when commissioners agreed to increase his salary from $140,000 to $160,000, give him a $5,000 bonus and increase his severance package by three months.

Barnett and Waldack both voted against the measure, with Barnett again asking for a review of the village's compensation process. 

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