Burr Ridge Adds $80K Administrative Post

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Burr Ridge Village Board this week approved the addition of an $80,000 administrative position.

One trustee expressed concern about the spending, but voted with the majority to create the special projects manager position.

During a discussion, Trustee Russell Smith said the village already added to spending with a major change to employee compensation a few months ago.

"I do have concerns about adding head count during the budget year," Smith said. "Knowing that we have a new budget coming around the corner, it makes me uneasy having this potential expense sitting out there when we don't know what the head count will be expected from the administration."

He added, "I don't know if our residents like that open checkbook."

Village Administrator Evan Walter said employees in the administration department have been working weekends and nights. The department, he said, includes his own position and 4½ others.

Walter said employees are telling him that they "can't go at this level anymore."

"The staff has put in a lot of hours this year," he said.

He said the new position won't take away from core services such as police and public works.

Trustee Tony Schiappa said the village's operation would remain lean, even with the new position.

"I don't want to lose an institutionalized crew due to overworking," he said. "I don't consider it an open checkbook. That's why we're here to help make that decision for residents."

Trustee Guy Franzese, who was running the meeting in Mayor Gary Grasso's absence, agreed.

"I have a great concern when our chief operating officer, Mr. Walter, comes to us and tells us his employees are working Saturdays, Sundays and nights and that they're overworked and they can't take much more," Franzese said. "We're lean and mean. Maybe we have cut too far in the past, and now is the time to add."

The board's decision was unanimous.