Burlington board talks over clerk hiring issues
By Jeanie Mayer For The Courier-News March 5, 2013 1:46PM
Updated: April 8, 2013 7:17AM
BURLINGTON — The village board engaged in a lively discussion regarding the upcoming appointment of a new village clerk to replace the elected clerk position that has been occupied by long-time clerk Mary Ann Wilkison.
The possibility of an unfunded Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund obligation for the new clerk sparked a debate by board members on the number of hours the position should be allowed per year.
Village President Kathy Loos already has postponed the final interviews until next week due to weather. Loos said she will contact the IMRF agency to get a definitive answer on what the obligations will be prior to the final interview process.
Plans are under way to interview each of five candidates who have been selected from the pool of applicants who applied for the part-time position.
Trustee John Totemeier, chair of the personnel committee, said he would be prepared to hire any of the five individuals and is seeking board help in coming up with some standard questions to ask each candidate.
“The people who made the short list, it pretty much seemed like any one of them would have been just fine,” he said.
The interviews will take place Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m.
In other business:
Trustees viewed plans presented by Bob Schmitt of the Central Youth Football League, who came before the board seeking a temporary-use permit. The permit is a village requirement for the organization to operate on the leased field and adjoining village property.
Schmitt reported growth in the program from 2011’s 148 participants to last year’s 238 members. He said he expects additional growth this year. He outlined his objectives for the year, including additional concussion safety training and addressing parking issues.
“This year our focus is on parking,” Schmitt said. “We want to be able to handle a growing program.”
In the area of player safety, Schmitt acknowledged the receipt of a donated automated external defibrillator device for use on the playing field in the event of an emergency.
He said the CYFL plans to replace older player equipment as needed and focus on concussion education and the potential for base-lining to help avoid injury.
The board is expected to approve the special-use permit at its next meeting.
Loos announced planning and fundraising for Fall Fest have already begun in the village. She said the Friends of Burlington committee is actively seeking donations to fund the annual fireworks display this year.
“We already received $1,000 from (Village Attorney) Nancy Harbottle and $500 from (developer) Kenyon,” Loos said.
Mary Ann Wilkison said donations can be sent to the Friends of Burlington, P.O. Box 52, Burlington, IL 60109.
