'Opening Up Controls': Burr Ridge Trustee Dissents In Financial Vote

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Burr Ridge Village Board on Monday voted to raise the limit for the village administrator's ability to transfer money for capital spending without board approval.

The limit was increased to $20,000, from $10,000.

One trustee, Russell Smith, dissented from the decision.

While Smith said Administrator Evan Walter was doing a "fantastic" job, he said increasing the cap would send the message to residents that the board was "opening up the controls."

"If our residents were in this room, would they be approving of what we want to pass up to $20,000? Or would they feel better that we keep this restriction at $10,000?" Smith said.

Walter said the move would not increase his power to spend any more money than he is allowed and would simply let him shift money from the capital account to the village's main fund.

He said the $10,000 limit has been the village's policy since 1995.

If the limit increased with inflation over that time, it would amount to a little over $20,000 now.

Mayor Gary Grasso was for the change, saying it was a matter of efficiency.

"It doesn't change (Walter's) power, and it doesn't change his budget," the mayor said. "It will be reported to the board. You're not asking for any greater freedom to spend the money because we'll still know about it."