New Western Springs Manager's Pact Detailed

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — This week's news in Western Springs was the same as in 2017: The Village Board promoted the director of administrative services to become village manager.

At Monday's meeting, the board unanimously voted for a contract with Ellen Baer, director of administrative services, to work in the top job. She is set to make $165,000 a year, slightly less the $167,200 salary of her predecessor, Ingrid Velkme.

Under the agreement, Baer will get five weeks of vacation, rather than the four in her previous position. Officials said the five weeks is in line with what the village's most senior directors receive.

She will be able to use a village-owned 2018 Ford Escape, which has 18,000 miles on it, officials said. Village President Alice Gallagher said the car was used by Velkme, is already paid for and has been well maintained.

By law, Gallagher said, Baer's contract expires when the village president's term ends, which is May 2025.

Baer also will get $10,000 to help her with health insurance costs, Gallagher said.

"This is an incentive to stay on her husband's policy, which will be a substantial savings to the village," Gallagher said.

Under the agreement, if Baer is terminated without cause, she would get the equivalent of three months of her base salary — $41,000.

Gallagher told Baer's children, who were in the audience, that their mother was hired through a competitive process and selected because of her experience, intelligence, education, demeanor and poise.

Baer has been the director of administrative services for four years.

Before Western Springs, Baer was assistant village manager in Lombard from 2000 to 2003 and in Orland Park from 2003 to 2016. She was the interim village manager in Orland Park for nine months in 2007 and 2008.

Baer has worked in municipal government for 29 years and holds a master's degree in public administration from Northern Illinois University.

Velke was also the director of administrative services before becoming village manager in 2017.

Like the last time, the village only looked internally for a new manager. At a Village Board meeting two weeks ago, Gallagher said the trustees had two in-house candidates. She said the board directed her to enter negotiations with one of them. She did not name the candidates.

Velkme's last day was Sept. 17. She publicly announced her retirement a week before. She attended Monday's board meeting.