Free Fuel, $100K-Plus Salaries For Joliet's Department Heads

JOLIET, IL —For much of this year, tens of thousands of Joliet taxpayers have paid between $5 and $6 at the pump for a gallon of gas while several of the best paid city officials are eligible for free fuel every week, Joliet Patch has learned.

In late June, Joliet Patch submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Joliet's human resources director Kathy Franson for the current salaries and compensation benefits of Joliet's 10 department heads. Franson provided Patch with a spreadsheet outlining the salaries for herself and other department heads. However, the document also indicated that a number of Joliet's leaders received unspecified stipends for automobile and fuel.

Last December, Joliet Patch reported that one of the perks in the 2022 employment contract for second-year city manager Jim Capparelli was the ability to obtain free fuel from the city of Joliet's fuel pumps.

The headline of Joliet Patch's Dec. 16 article read, "$6K Raise, Free Gas For Joliet City Manager Jim Capparelli?"

"In addition, the vehicle allowance shall include motor fuel from city-operated pumping stations at no charge, for Mr. Capparelli's personal vehicle that he regularly uses in the discharge of his official duties," Capparelli's contract agreement with the Joliet City Council outlined.

Last week, Joliet Patch circled back to Franson, seeking further clarification from her regarding both the automobile stipend and the fuel stipend for Joliet's department heads.

In her email reply, Franson indicated that the automobile stipend is $2,487 annually for Joliet's department heads who are recipients. The police chief, fire chief and public works director do not get it because have take-home city vehicles, city documents reflect.

As for the nine department heads with access to fuel, Joliet's human resources director noted that "gas keys can only be used at a specific gas pump and are limited to 20 gallons weekly and are issued in addition to auto stipends in some case."

In any event, the following is a summary of the current salaries and additional benefits for Joliet's department heads:

• Fire Chief Greg Blaskey, $185,929 salary, city-issued vehicle, receives fuel stipend.
• Police Chief Bill Evans, $164,618 salary, city-issued vehicle, receives fuel stipend.
• Information Technology Director David Braner, $161,646 salary, receives automobile stipend and the fuel stipend.
• Public Utilities Director Allison Swisher, $158,476, receives auto stipend and fuel stipend.

• Corporation Counsel Sabrina Spano, $157,187, receives auto stipend and fuel stipend.
• Finance Director Jim Ghedotte, $156,072 salary, receives auto stipend and fuel stipend.
• Public Works Director Greg Ruddy, $151,541 salary, city-issued vehicle, receives fuel stipend.
• Community development director Eva-Marie Tropper, $150,858, receives auto stipend, fuel stipend.
• City Clerk Christa Desiderio, $136,481 salary, receives auto stipend, fuel stipend.
• Human Resources Director Kathy Franson, $136,481 salary, receives auto stipend but does not receive the fuel stipend.