Pay Plan For Western Springs Employees On Table

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs has lacked a pay plan for non-union employees for more than a dozen years. But officials say they hope to change that.

During the Great Recession, the village set aside its pay plan because of economic changes, Village Manager Ellen Baer told the Village Board earlier this month.

In recent months, the village enlisted the services of a consultant to help create a new pay plan, which officials say reflects the market value of the local government's positions.

Baer told the board the village has never sought to be the highest-paying municipality in the area. She said the village understands it has limited resources, so it often pays on the low or middle part of the market range for salaries.

But Baer said the village offers a good working environment where employees can work on a variety of projects, expanding their skills.

The Village Board is expected to vote on the pay plan at its meeting Monday.

The plan indicates the village manager's salary is set by contract. She makes $165,000 a year.

A number of top-level positions have a range of $102,000 to $153,000. Those positions consist of deputy village manager, director of community development, village engineer, director of finance, fire chief, police chief, director of municipal services, director of recreation and director of technology.

The plan will help employees understand where they may have growth potential, Baer said. And it's also to keep the public informed about what village positions typically pay, she said.