Darien City Council Votes to Employ an In-House Mechanic

Repairs on Darien’s city-owned vehicles will remain an inside job.

voted 5-1 at Monday’s meeting to continue employing a full-time mechanic, similar to the one who retired over the summer, rather than with Downers Grove. 

Aldermen Ted Schauer (Ward 1), Tina Beilke (Ward 2), John Poteraske (Ward 3), Joerg Seifert (Ward 4) and Joe Marchese (Ward 5) each shared hesitations before voting against the proposal to send vehicle repairs to the neighboring town. Ward 7 Alderman Halil Avci was the lone yes vote. Ward 6 Alderman Sylvia McIvor was absent.

Marchese said his primary concern was the level of service Darien would receive through the agreement.

“If there’s 22 inches of snow on the street and we have a vehicle down and somebody’s street doesn’t get plowed, it’s not going to be satisfactory,” he said.

“But you won’t even know until we try it,” Mayor Kathy Weaver said. Weaver encouraged the council to consider a trial period for the arrangement.

Marchese also said a recent visit to Darien’s enlightened him to the maintenance level the city’s trucks require. 

Downers Grove employs six full-time mechanics and two fleet supervisors at its repair shop, Assistant City Administrator Scott Coren has said. The village recently entered into service agreements with SEASPAR and School District 58, in addition to maintaining its own fleet of vehicles.

It takes about 15 minutes to drive to Downers Grove’s shop, compared to about five minutes to get to Darien’s, Coren said. 

Until this summer, Darien employed one full-time mechanic and one general Public Works employee who assisted him, in addition to performing other duties. Tom Masek, who previously served as that assistant, has been filling in full-time since the mechanic’s retirement. 

Beilke echoed Marchese’s comments, adding that she thought program oversight could be an issue. 

“I think there’s going to be a lot of hand holding and time, and time is money, too,” she said.

Avci said he thought the arrangement would actually increase the city’s level of service.

“As long as it’s a trial basis, I think it’s a step in the right direction,” he said.

City Administrator Bryon Vana said earlier in the evening that the city would advertise for the mechanic position if the council didn’t approve the agreement with Downers Grove.

It will cost the city about $143,685 to employ a full-time mechanic, according to Coren’s estimates. The figure includes a base salary of about $66,000, plus benefits, overtime pay, and parts and equipment.

Downers Grove was set to charge $87 an hour for the first 1,100 hours of repairs and $45 an hour beyond that. A typical year with1,180 hours worth of repairs would cost about $129,425. 

After the vote Steve Karpowicz, of the Local 150 union, applauded the decision. 

“The residents of Darien I think should be very proud of you all tonight,” he said.