Elmhurst May Hire Another Public Relations Employee

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst is poised to add another employee to its public relations staff.

The city's proposed budget calls for hiring a full-time communications specialist for $62,000 a year.

That person would be the fourth in the marketing and communications department. The others are the communications manager, a part-time communications specialist and an intern.

In explaining the new position to the City Council on Monday, Assistant City Manager Mike Kopp said it's a challenge for the communications manager to handle all emergency communications around the clock 365 days a year.

Since the city hired the communications manager in 2014, much has changed, Kopp said.

"The goals and responsibilities of the communications department have grown exponentially over the last nine years and appear not to be slowing down anytime soon," he said. "The community demands access to information as soon as it is available."

None of the aldermen questioned the expense of another public relations employee.

In December 2019, when the administration proposed adding the part-time communications specialist position, the City Council approved the expense.

But Alderman Michael Bram questioned it.

"I don't see the need for adding more dollars," Bram said. "We have made great strides as far as communications overall."

At the time, though, then-Mayor Steve Morley disagreed. He said the communications manager, Kassondra Schref, who is still in the job, was "buried" with all of her responsibilities.

Patch left a message for comment with Bram on Wednesday about whether he was fine with adding another position.

In reviewing the communications budget Monday, Alderwoman Noel Talluto said it included items with which she disagreed. She said she hoped the issues would come become the council's committees and the full council.

"I feel there are a bunch of small things that have minimal council oversight," where line items are set to increase substantially from 2022, Talluto said.

Among the items she questioned were $30,000 for website design. She noted the website was overhauled earlier this year.

Kopp said the city wanted to further enhance it.

"It's a nice-to-have," he said. "If we didn't do it, I'm sure our website would be fine the way it is."