$260K In Pay For Clarendon Hills Firefighter With Other Duties

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Clarendon Hills' deputy fire chief, who took the job a year ago and holds other village roles, was paid $260,830 in 2025, according to the village.

For 2026, Michael DeLillo is budgeted to make $277,000.

This is far more than his boss and anyone else in the village government.

Fire Chief Dave Godek made $144,000 last year. Then-Village Manager Zach Creer's salary was $178,000.

Other top-paid officials were Finance Director Maureen Potempa and Public Works Director Brendan McLaughlin (both at $163,000) and Police Chief Ed Leinweber ($152,000).

This year, DeLillo is set to get paid $99,668 as deputy fire chief, $42,715 as building inspector in the community development department, and $136,496 as a paid-on-call, part-time firefighter and paramedic, according to the village's compensation report.

He is also a part-time firefighter for suburban Riverside, where he made $12,000 last year.

Asked about DeLillo's pay, Clarendon Hills Village Manager Paul Dalen said DeLillo works as a deputy fire chief and building inspector during normal business hours.

During off hours, Dalen said, DeLillo covers fire department shifts. Village policy allows employees to work such shifts at a lower pay scale than their normal rate, he said.

"(DeLillo) tends to cover numerous off-hour shifts at the Fire Department and plays a necessary role," Dalen said. "With that said, the Fire Department is actively recruiting part-time firefighters and paramedics to increase the pool of employees in order to spread out schedule opportunities."

The fire department runs a cadet program, which creates a pipeline of future firefighters, Dalen said.

In response to a Patch inquiry Monday, Village President Eric Tech said he reviewed DeLillo's pay with Dalen. He referred questions to the manager.

On Monday, Patch left messages for comment with all six trustees – Ralph DeAngelis, Mark Peterson, John Weicher, Elizabeth O'Connell, Chris Lang and Omar Chaudhry. Five of them did not respond. Peterson referred questions to the village administration.

A message for comment was left with DeLillo on Tuesday.