South Holland, Ill. (ECWd) –
There have been many conversations and publications lately concerning compensation being paid to current Thornton Township elected officials. Here is our opinion on this subject, which is focused solely on how it got to this point, not on the dollar amounts of their compensation.
On May 24, 2022, we published an article explaining how wrong the 2020 compensation ordinance was (read the article here). Compensation is set for the position, not for how long an elected official has held the position. We also talked about the per diem rates paid, which likely violates the current Local Government Travel Expense Control Act.
On September 27, 2022, we attended our first Thornton Township meeting where my public comment was focused in part on the unlawful compensation ordinance passed by the previous board of trustees, and how any compensation ordinance should set the compensation for the position, not by how many years a person was in that position.
On December 19, 2023, we wrote about the new unlawful compensation ordinance, which was later revoked by a vote of the township board.
On July 1, 2024, the governor signed Public Act 103-0600 which prohibits the type of compensation provided for in some Cook County Township Compensation Ordinances (see pages 90 and 91), and more specifically, declares previous ordinances null and void (the entire ordinance, not simply one provision of it) if it contains provisions of lesser pay for newly elected supervisors and the same or increased pay for a reelected supervisor.
“A township is prohibited from decreasing the salary for a person elected as supervisor of a township while maintaining the salary of an incumbent. An ordinance that violates this paragraph is null and void.”
With the passage of PA 103-0600. it appears both the 2020 and 2023 compensation ordinances are now null and void according to law.
On April 6, 2025, we wrote about the newly elected township officials and urged them to consider obtaining a court’s decision on the validity of the elected official compensation ordinance currently in effect, and by extension, declaring what the compensation should be, considering PA 103-0060 and the now-void previous ordinances. This would remove all doubt as to the legality of how much compensation these elected officials are receiving.
In the absence of a court order, it should be reasonable to set their compensation based on what the previous elected officials were being paid, while also ensuring that all township trustees are paid the same regardless of how long they have been in office.
Keep in mind, these current elected officials are bound by the compensation ordinances set by previous boards. The question here is which ordinance or parts of an ordinance are still valid, considering the passage of PA 103-0600.
If residents believe the current compensation is not valid, they can seek relief in circuit court, which is why the township board should seek a declaratory judgment on this issue to end all doubt of the validity of their compensation.
8 Comments
Lincoln
Posted at 14:59h, 19 JulyTaking this action to a circuit court may not work. The defendants will “shop” for a judge who will rule in their favor. It’s illegal, but sadly does occur. Major judicial reform is sorely needed in Illinois.
Harris’ response to WGN Investigates was so uninformed and lacked any clarity. Sadly, it appears that many people who enter politics do not have a firm grasp of a simple thought process or professional language. From Henyard to Harris, the saga continues.
Alvin Willis
Posted at 18:45h, 11 JulyWho determines what the salaries should be if the last ordinance is null in void, Is it the Supervisor?
John Kraft & Kirk Allen
Posted at 06:55h, 12 JulyAccording to a recent AG Opinion, which we do not agree with, it would revert back to the most recent “valid” ordinance. With PA103-0600 declaring all previous ordinances void if they violate the act, it might be difficult to find a compliant previous version in Thornton Township. I believe a Judge could make the appropriate determination.
Alvin Willis
Posted at 18:43h, 11 JulyWho determines what the salaries should be, Is it the supervisor?
Janell Taylor
Posted at 13:01h, 11 JulyMS. Henyard attempted to dillute the salary of anyone successor to her position if she did not win. That was a selfish move on her part. Thankfully, it was not approved. I do feel the salary of Supervisor should be less than what it is since the position is part time and residents still do not know the Township’s actual financial status. However, I believe Zuccarelli held four paid positions. Harris deserves to be compensated in a manner that is close to but not as much as what Zuccarelli or Henyard received. It is apparent that some residents are not up to speed on Henyard’s attempt to financially punish anyone who won her spot. I sincerely hope Harris and the Trustees are truly transparent as they handle the responsibilities of their positions. Residents’ Questions and Answers need to be priority to promote goodwill among us all.
Rosemarie DeWitt
Posted at 18:40h, 13 JulyThe average salary for Township Supervisors in Illinois is $61,773 annually or $30 per hour, according to ZipRecruiter. However, salaries can vary significantly, with top earners making around $89,150 annually and some supervisors in more rural areas earning less than $10,000 per year.
Factors influencing salary:
Location:
Supervisors in the Chicago area (Zone I) tend to earn more than those in other zones.
Township size and population:
Larger, more populated townships may have higher salary budgets.
Additional responsibilities:
Supervisors who also serve as Road District Treasurers or handle General Assistance may receive additional compensation.
Experience and qualifications:
More experienced or highly qualified supervisors may command higher salaries.
Examples of Salary Ranges:
Top Earners: $89,150 annually (or $42/hour).
75th Percentile: $73,600 annually (or $35/hour).
25th Percentile: $43,600 annually (or $21/hour).
Rural areas (example): Some supervisors may earn less than $10,000 annually.
Chicago Area (example): One supervisor’s salary was reported as $224,000, although this is considered exceptionally high.
Thornton Township is that $224,ooo dollar figure. This There is no way that the new supervisor should be making more then $80K per year.
Zuccarelli was highly over paid, as can be seen in the figures above.
Darren Cunningham
Posted at 21:10h, 10 JulyAs a home owner in Thornton Township. There is no way the Supervisor Harris should be receiving this type of salary. Its very disappointing.
I hope Harris proves he is worthy of such a salary. This man knew what the community have gone through and still commanded such salary!
Now lets see if he’s worthy of such a salary.
Scott L
Posted at 13:26h, 10 JulyYou boystown should know better….like that song from people your age by the Who…”New boss same as the old boss”