Calumet Metropolis may see five-figure wage will increase for elected officers if a proposed plan introduced up at a particular assembly Monday makes it by the Metropolis Council, in accordance with a metropolis electronic mail obtained by the Day by day Southtown.
Mayor Thaddeus Jones claimed Tuesday to don’t have anything to do with the proposal, which requires greater than doubling the mayor’s wage from $24,000 per 12 months to $54,000 and elevating aldermen’s salaries from $14,000 to $25,000. Elected officers are also paid 1/twenty fourth of their annual wage for every particular assembly they attend, with the town web site reflecting 17 particular conferences referred to as to date this 12 months.
“There’s no proposed modifications,” Jones mentioned Tuesday. “We’ve till Oct. 26 for the aldermen to make the choice of in the event that they wish to increase their salaries.”
Any wage will increase for elected officers wouldn’t take impact till after the following election for his or her put up, with some aldermen and the mayor’s workplace up in April 2025.
Whereas Monday’s assembly agenda mentioned the wage modifications can be up for dialogue and approval, Ald. James Patton and Ald. Michael Navarrete mentioned that they had not obtained any details about the proposal. In response, Jones ensured he would ship them copies of the language and requested them to easily transfer the revisions to a committee earlier than placing it to a different vote, triggering protest from Patton.
“I’d wish to see it first,” Patton mentioned on the assembly. “Regardless of the correct strategy to do it’s, so long as we’re not taking motion earlier than anybody’s received an opportunity to see it, focus on it.”
Jones once more agreed to ship the proposed modifications to aldermen and no motion was taken.
Following the assembly, Patton mentioned he wouldn’t help the outlined proposal if it got here to a vote, saying he believes the compensation is affordable. He mentioned he believes it was “disingenuous” for the proposal to vary one thing as vital as salaries for elected officers to be placed on the agenda with out preparation.
Patton, who’s difficult Jones for mayor within the February Democratic Main, shared an electronic mail he mentioned Jones despatched to all aldermen and different metropolis officers Tuesday evening that not solely bumps salaries for the mayor and all aldermen, but in addition will increase the allowed month-to-month bills for the mayor, aldermen, the town clerk and the town treasurer to from $700 to $1,500.
The wage ordinance additionally would offers the mayor a further position of native liquor commissioner, offering him an additional $500 per thirty days. The e-mail states that the proposal would change the “liquor compensation to $5,500.”
When requested to elucidate the proposed modifications, Jones referred to as the data despatched by Patton “privileged” and later mentioned he despatched the present wage ordinance however didn’t embrace any proposed modifications in his electronic mail to aldermen.
“It’s important to you need to perceive who you’re coping with,” Jones mentioned about Patton. “You’re coping with a pathological liar that’s sending you stuff to write down a narrative about him.”
Navarrete mentioned he didn’t see the e-mail from Jones earlier than it disappeared from his inbox. Patton mentioned he believes the mayor, by the town’s electronic mail system, deleted the message after Jones was requested in regards to the proposal Tuesday afternoon.
“It’s insane to say one thing that’s so simply provable,” Patton mentioned. “You understand, the one factor I’ll say is he can in all probability, he in all probability appears like he can get away saying that as a result of he is aware of he’s disabled my capacity to ahead the emails.”
Different aldermen and metropolis officers who apparently obtained the e-mail from Jones didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark Tuesday. The council meets once more at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Metropolis Corridor, 204 Pulaski Street.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
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