Patch Election Q&A: Martin Flowers on Question #3

The question:

One candidate has suggested returning to a village administrator form of government. How do you feel about the current village manager system? Do you see this as an area where the village could save money?

Currently we are operating under a village manager form of government that took effect a decade ago. There is discussion around the community that the village should return to the old form of government which had a village administrator instead.

Our current village administer has done a remarkable job helping the village cope through the growth period and through the economic slowdown. We are asking other departments within the village to cut personnel and currently we have labor contracts before us that must be addressed. If the village must move back to an administrator form of government in order to provide the resources to address budget concerns then I also suggest that we as a village board do our part and roll back the pay increase to the trustees and mayor to maintain the current base pay and use that additional revenue to addressing personnel matters with in the village.

In 2008 it was voted to increase the pay of the village president and trustees, and as we all know with the current economic slowdown and the added burdens being placed on our budgets we all can sacrifice to provide our residents the responsible approach to including all of us in the this economic recovery.