Will County Democratic Caucus Committee met April 15.
Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:
I. Call To Order / Roll Call
Minority Leader Herbert Brooks Jr. called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm
Attendee Name; Title; Status; Arrived:
Herbert Brooks Jr. Minority Leader Present
Lauren Staley-Ferry Minority Whip Present
Mark Ferry Member Present
Kenneth E. Harris Member Absent
Tyler Marcum Member Present
Donald A. Moran Member Absent
Beth Rice Member Present
Laurie Summers Member Present
Jacqueline Traynere Member Present
Denise E. Winfrey Member Present
Present from State's Attorney's Office: K. Meyers.
II. Pledge Of Allegiance To The Flag
Mr. Marcum led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
III. Approval Of Minutes
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Discussion of County Board Agenda
Proclamations:
Mr. Brooks stated Mrs. Staley-Ferry will read the Proclamation from her desk.
Mr. Palmer recapped the CMAP presentation to be given by Mr. Joe Zabo.
Land Use & Development Committee:
Mrs. Summers reviewed the Zoning Cases. The applicant in the first case is a gun smith, with minimal firearms sales.
Mrs. Traynere asked does he have a federal firearms license?
Mrs. Summers replied yes.
Mr. Brooks asked were there any concerns?
Mr. Meyers replied there are no issues with the licensing and no one has raised concerns. Staff has reviewed the conditions for operation; legally there is no concern.
Mrs. Summers stated I am requesting the Resolution be sent back to Committee for further discussion. A lot of questions were not answered and I need more answers before voting.
Mrs. Rice asked what are the questions you would like answered?
Mrs. Summers replied he did not obtain the necessary permitting. He has two different businesses, a landscaping business and a greenhouse; growing things to sell retail. He built a couple of buildings too close, they were not within the 50 foot parameter and they need to be moved. He secured the business for one of the buildings in question; the salt storage for salting roads. The gentleman next door said salt was seeping into the ground. Land Use found the building had a cement floor and it had the height and a retaining feature to keep it from seeping. He is moving that business to Indiana. He did not get permits for the greenhouses which are too close as well. He will have to move three of them to the front of the property. The property is 10 acres, but narrow and long. I would like to discuss this further at Committee.
Discussion of the Planning Zoning Committee action took place.
Finance Committee:
Mrs. Traynere reviewed the Resolutions.
Public Works & Transportation Committee:
Mrs. Traynere reviewed the Resolutions.
Mr. Ferry added the temporary light at Carillon has been taken off the agenda until they approve their 2019 budget in June.
Judicial Committee:
Mr. Marcum reviewed the school safety discussed at the Committee meeting.
Mrs. Traynere stated there were comments it should have been held at night with a larger group to include more people from the schools. It was a good presentation. Mr. Marcum spoke about the metal detectors and people were surprised. The intent was good, but I am not certain there is anything we could do.
Mr. Marcum stated the possibility of more meetings was discussed.
Mr. Palmer stated the Sheriff’s Department provides resource officers in the unincorporated high schools. With more funding more deputies could be put in every school.
Mr. Marcum asked do the schools pay for the deputies?
Sheriff Kelley responded we fund their salaries, the schools pay for the overtime at extracurricular events. We thought about asking the Lincoln-Way District to help fund this, but have not because it could be a political hot potato. It depends on what you want to do. I will put something in every school if you want me to. Our schools are pretty safe. When we hear of something at a school, we are there and we have enough people there to make sure nothing happens. You cannot predict this and you will never be able to train for it.
Mrs. Traynere stated Dr. Burke and I mentioned doing more on prevention, like hiring more social workers. Since a social workers know kids with problems.
Sheriff Kelley stated the biggest problem, is when we get an issue at a school, they don’t want us to report it and show they have issues. The school boards have to say we have an issue we are dealing with and they don’t want to do that.
Mr. Meyers stated if the school boards don’t want officers in schools there is nothing we can do and they are bound by various education and mental health laws. The school boards are the drivers.
Mrs. Summers stated we have to come up with a plan. What are we doing now to keep them from coming into the schools? That is not a plan; the long term plan is the mental health issues and social worker issues.
Sheriff Kelley stated every deputy has been trained for school shootings, they know what to do and how to do it. They are not going to stand back and wait.
Mr. Palmer stated there are Sheriff or municipal police at every event. They are talking about during the school day. Many schools have school police resource officers during the day. What is the proposal? The only proposal is we need more law enforcement in the schools. Who will pay for it? The schools don’t have the money and we don’t have money to fund all the positions now.
Mrs. Traynere stated they were not suggesting that, it was a meeting to share information.
Sheriff Kelley stated I would be shocked to see a school to put in metal detectors.
Mr. Marcum stated Joliet Township has them.
Mr. Palmer stated most schools have restricted access during the day.
Sheriff Kelley stated every threat we received at Lincoln-Way schools someone has been charged. We do not take it lightly. We go in, we investigate and we charge.
Mr. Meyers stated in the Joliet School District they put verbiage in and basically they can trespass the kids rather than treat it as a discipline issue. He mentioned Texas schools had armed guards and that was a deterrent.
Mr. Marcum stated they discussed evening meetings to allow more of the public to be involved.
Public Health & Safety Committee:
Mrs. Traynere reviewed the Resolutions.
Legislative & Policy Committee:
No discussion.
Capital Improvements Committee:
Ms. Winfrey reviewed the Resolution.
Sheriff Kelley asked is there a plan for a staffing study at the new courthouse to see how many deputies will be needed?
Mr. Palmer stated they talked about the operational costs and that was not the focus.
Sheriff Kelley stated what we have currently will not work in the new courthouse. We need to determine the needs.
Mrs. Traynere stated I asked the Chief Judge and he said they will probably need the same number of staff, maybe more. I asked if everything had been figured out and he replied not to his knowledge.
Mr. Brooks asked Ms. Winfrey to bring this up at the Capital meeting.
Mrs. Traynere stated we need a study this year, since the courthouse will open in 2020 and we have to budget for it. It takes a while to get the additional deputies trained.
Executive Committee:
Mrs. Traynere stated I hear of people losing their jobs and being forced to choose between their job and County Board. We have impromptu Committee of the Whole and Caucus meetings not on the schedule; meetings about highways, Houbolt, I-55 and Weber Road. Unless all the meetings are moved to evenings, we need a change. I was forced to decide between my job and County Board and I don’t believe we should stand mute and say nothing, because we don’t have the votes. Bolingbrook has six village trustees making $14,000 per year to attend two evening meetings a month, so they lose no time from their jobs. I don’t know about their health benefits or retirement.
Mr. Marcum state law required employers to give you time off to attend the meetings.
Mr. Ferry added any meeting requiring a quorum to do county business is protected by law.
Mr. Marcum stated the reason I would not vote for a raise, is because there are two in each district. There is one Joliet City Council members in each district and they receive a salary to represent that district. If there is two of us, you are getting twice as much out of each district at $46,000 per district.
Mr. Brooks clarified you could not support an increase since you feel we have too many representative per district.
Mr. Marcum stated most constituents would say each district gets $46,000, split between two people, plus health insurance, if you take it. With two people per district we make enough.
Mrs. Rice asked when can the County Board change the number of representatives?
Mr. Marcum replied after the 2020 census.
Mrs. Summer asked how long has it been since County Board received a raise?
Mrs. Traynere answered 16 years and it will be 18 years if we vote no.
Mr. Brooks added this comes up every two years it does not affect you, because you are setting the salaries for the next Board. It will only affect you, if you are up for election and win.
Mr. Meyers stated it does not affect this current body. However, the next body is constituted whether it is all the same or all different people. You are voting for the position, not a person.
A brief discussion took place regarding the Members up for reelection.
Ms. Winfrey stated I am in favor of a raise, but I don’t believe that will go. At a minimum, the money the county put into IMRF, that we lost, needs to be added to our salary. I have brought that up several times. I am okay with the countywides current salaries. I don’t want to see any cuts from their paycheck, because I don’t think any of them are out of line.
Sheriff Kelley stated I would make more money retired than being the Sheriff. I did 30 years in this department. Eventually you are going to get what you pay for. That is why a deputy who has been here five years running against me. If elected he will receive a $60,000 pay raise. We are not even close to what other Sheriff’s in the area make. We are the second biggest Sheriff’s department in the State of Illinois. Cook is bigger because they have more Correctional Officers and courthouse deputies. We police more residents than they do, 107,000 residents, plus 25,000 in Homer. No other Sheriff’s Department in this state polices that many residents. Cook County polices about 89,000. The Grundy County Sheriff has a population of 50,000 with 45 officers and he makes only $4,000 less. You cannot say the County Board is underpaid without saying the Sheriff is underpaid.
Mrs. Rice asked what would be a reasonable increase for the Sheriff?
Sheriff Kelley responded the Kane County Sheriff is $15,000 more. My administration has progressed this department to the next level. Not just me, but all my administrators. I could lose so it would not be my salary. The salary should be at least equal to the Kane County Sheriff.
Ms. Winfrey responded to match Kane County would be approximately $15,000 more and that does not put him where he should be.
Mrs. Traynere stated we need to make the point on the floor; you have the largest number of residents policed.
A discussion of the countywide positions up for election took place.
Mr. Palmer stated it has been a long time, but in the past they did the phases. You can change it when the redistricting happens and everybody runs. For countywides they did the same thing. We are not the only county that pays the offices the same outside of the Sheriff and State’s Attorney. The responsibilities are different for someone with six staff members versus someone with 200 or more staff. DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties have a chairman and Will County has Leadership and an Executive.
Mrs. Traynere stated I am interested in raising the Sheriff’s pay 15%, but not raising the Clerk or Treasurer 15%.
Mr. Brooks stated two years ago I motioned for all of these and could not get a second. It does sound like there is more support this time. Some of our colleagues across the aisle have an interest in an increase. Not all of them and certainly not the majority.
Sheriff Kelley stated if you are going to raise the Sheriff’s pay to Kane County, you should raise the Treasurer and Clerk’s pay to Kane County.
Ms. Winfrey stated we are more likely to raise the Sheriff’s pay because people understand the work load, but I don’t think the others will.
Mrs. Traynere indicated she would approve an increase, especially if it is over four years. We need to raise the County Board salaries quite a bit. Do we know the dollar amount the county was contributing to the IMRF?
Ms. Winfrey replied I don’t know the number, but I would say that would be my bare minimum. Overall County Board’s salary need to be raised; our Board Members are paid well below where they should be.
Mrs. Traynere stated I am for a 50% increase in the County Board salary.
Mr. Brooks stated my recommendation at Executive Committee was $500 annually.
Mrs. Rice stated I see firsthand what the Clerk does, how important the election integrity is and technology is a huge part. We want to attract people well versed in technology and know the importance of using technology to create safe elections. There are numerous ways the Sheriff is encouraging public safety across the County and the opioid epidemic has added an increased strain on the department. I would like to see us unified and stand for something, not worrying about our next campaign, doing what is right. When I know and understand the skill set, for the Treasurer, I would be more comfortable with a raise. I would like to see a raise for County Board members. If we pay at the bottom, that is what we will get. I chose to leave my part time teaching job when it became full time and I could not stay on the Board. I would like to see us make a statement and talk about the type of representation needed in each district. Are we being excessive? Is it appropriate? When it is the appropriate time, to take a look at the number of members in each district?
Mrs. Traynere stated I would like to see a 50% increase in the County Board salaries and if we implement it over two cycles that would be fine. I don’t believe $23,000 is enough.
A brief discussion took place regarding the cost of health insurance provided to employees.
Mr. Brooks clarified the recommendation is for Resolution #18-99 is a 50% increase.
Mr. Marcum stated if we did a smaller amount spread over four years, I would be willing to vote for it. I would suggest $1,000 per year for four years.
Mr. Meyers stated I don’t believe you can set it for another cycle. You could get 25% with the intent two years down the road you will get another 25%. I don’t believe you can legally lock in the salary for two cycles.
Mrs. Traynere stated a 5% raise is $1,000. We have not had a raise in 16 years. People’s time is worth something. Eventually, all you will get are people without jobs, people who can’t work, or people who are self-supporting and don’t need money.
Mr. Brooks stated chairs and those in leadership put in a lot of time. We are constantly at the County Building for meetings and calls. I made the point at Executive, the Board Members did not have to be there, but you were. If you want to know what is going on in the County you need to be there. That is a lot of personal time and time away from work.
Discussion took place regarding the salaries for the countywide elected officials.
Ms. Winfrey stated you need the articulate exactly what makes it worthwhile for County Board to be escalated in pay. First, you want to get quality people, people who are able to give the time necessary and not just run in and if the meeting runs over they leave early. That is not in the best interest to the community or the county. You want to get people who are able to serve not only on County Board committees but nationally and be available to put time in for conference calls and do the work. You need people who are able to put time into the community, by showing up at events and speaking. If we don’t pay enough to do that, those things fall off their plate.
A discussion took place regarding the role and responsibilities and staffing numbers of the Treasurer and County Clerk.
Ms. Winfrey stated I would move the Sheriff’s salary to that of Kane County. For the other countywides I would stagger them. For the Treasurer, I would give the position a raise, but not the same as the Clerk and certainly not what I would give the Sheriff. I would give more to County Board to be sure we attract the type of people who are able to come and do the county’s work, be a part of the community, be effective and not running off to do other things.
Mrs. Traynere stated according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 2013 to 2017 the annual percentage increase in wages was 10%. That is just for five years. These numbers are total compensation so it does take into account for retirement and healthcare. That is a healthy number and we have gone for 16 years with zero.
Mr. Brooks stated we concur there should be a raise for the County Board Members, but not what the amount should be. What is the recommendation from the caucus? Do you feel a 25% raise starting with the next Board is adequate, since it has been 16 years?
Mrs. Traynere asked those elected in November, starting in December 2018 will get this raise and those elected in 2020 will then get the raise?
Mr. Palmer stated in the past they said those being elected to a four term in November will not get a raise the first two years, you will get it in years three and four of your term. Those up in 2020 will get the raise in year one and two. Everyone will get it at the same time. They are not going to give two salaries for doing the same job. Legally, you can give the people running this time a raise and not give it to the others until they are elected in 2020. We gave the countywides, outside of the Sheriff and State’s Attorney, the same salary. Clearly, they are not doing the same magnitude of work. In the private sector, you would not pay the County Clerk, Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder of Deeds, Circuit Clerk and Executive the same salary. All the positions, except the Auditor receive a stipend from the State. County Board decided to give the Auditor a stipend, when Steve Weber was the Auditor.
Discussion of how salary increases are phased in for countywide officials and seated County Board members took place.
Mrs. Adams stated this is only for the Board Members up for election in November. The sitting Board Members cannot vote for a raise for themselves. You cannot change the salary while you are seated. It is only the ones up in November.
Caucus members agree to an increase of $5,000 for County Board members, with Mrs. Staley-Ferry abstaining.
Mrs. Traynere stated I will make a motion for $28,000, but that is not nearly enough when you look at what Members in Lake, Kendall and other counties are paid.
Mr. Brooks led a discussion on setting the County Clerk’s salary.
The caucus concurred with the Clerk’s salary of $100,000 with Mrs. Staley-Ferry abstaining.
Mr. Brooks led a discussion on setting the salary of the Sheriff.
The caucus concurred with the Sheriff’s salary of $125,000.
Mr. Brooks led a discussion on setting the salary of the Treasurer.
The caucus concurred with the Treasurer’s salary of $100,000.
Mr. Brooks reviewed the remaining Executive Committee Resolutions.
A brief discussion took place on the Resolutions for the green energy of 50% renewable.
Ms. Winfrey added she would not be in favor of more than 50% renewable energy due to the partnership of the County with Exelon Nuclear facility. A number of our residents work at the plant, and I don’t want to see anyone out of work because we went 100% renewable.
VI. Committee Reports
Land Use & Development
Finance
Public Works & Transportation
Judicial
Public Health & Safety
Legislative & Policy
Capital Improvements
Executive
VII. Other New Business
VIII. Chairman's Report/Announcements
IX. Public Comment
X. Executive Session
XI. Adjournment
1. Motion to Adjourn at 7:40 pm
Result: Approved [Unanimous]
Mover: Lauren Staley-Ferry, Minority Whip
Seconder: Denise E. Winfrey, Member
Ayes: Brooks Jr., Staley-Ferry, Ferry, Marcum, Rice, Summers, Traynere, Winfrey
Absent: Harris, Moran
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=2956&Inline=True
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