Thornton Township (ECWd) –
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard has once again caused the township trustees to take action on something they should never had taken action on, and the Trustees who voted in favor of this unauthorized compensation should vote to reconsider it at the next meeting and vote it down.
Elected Official compensation, according to state law, must be set at least 180 days prior to the term of office and cannot be increased or decreased during their term of office (See Art VII, Section 9 (b) of the Illinois Constitution).
Compensation encompasses everything received by the elected official.
“It is simply hard to envision how these elected officials, who are paid by way of salary, can be given more money for the performance of their duties and have it be termed something other than salary.”
Participation of township elected officials in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund must be approved by the township electors at an annual meeting of the electors:
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">(60 ILCS 1/30-180)</span> <span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">Sec. 30-180. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. </span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The electors</strong></span> may authorize the supervisor to file an application for the township and all other bodies politic established by or <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>subject to the control of the electors</strong></span> to participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund under the Illinois Pension Code.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: small;">(Source: P.A. 82-783; 88-62.)</span>Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund. The electors may authorize the supervisor to file an application for the township and all other bodies politic established by or subject to the control of the electors to participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund under the Illinois Pension Code.
(Source: P.A. 82-783; 88-62.)
Additionally, all compensation of township elected officials must be included in the compensation setting resolution or ordinance adopted by the board of trustees of the township at least 180 days prior to the term of office.
Along with the currently adopted compensation being improper for various reasons, nothing in the adopted compensation resolution authorizes IMRF for any Thornton Township Trustee, which means it cannot be had by the current township trustees.
To approve this resolution during last week’s meeting was nothing more than an illegal increase in pay, which prohibited by the Illinois Constitution.
3 Comments
Michael Hagberg
Posted at 12:50h, 27 FebruaryWhen I was a Trustee of the Belleville Township we tried to challenge the Supervisor receive Union Health Care, when it wasn’t defined in the salary ordinance and the position wasn’t a union job. The Township attorney fought us and stated it would cost the taxpayers more to fight it than to just pay the healthcare costs.
Ultimately we won by dissolving the Township, that only administered General Assistance (because was coterminous with the city of Belleville).
mahki sahn
Posted at 14:37h, 26 FebruaryThey would do themselves justice by rethinking that and vote it down. We know Henyard doesn’t care about the law, she will violate it and then have her attys figure it out if she is caught. Residents and concerned citizens throughout the township need to be concerned.
Dave
Posted at 14:14h, 26 FebruaryNice gig, when you can vote yourself a raise with taxpayer dollars