The Grundy County Board’s Finance Committee discussed the possibility of giving the board secretary a bonus for taking on extra work in the absence of a county administrator.
A tie vote among the committee made the chairman decide to bring it back up at the next meeting.
Chairman John Galloway initiated the discussion, stating that secretary Sandy Pommier and Land Use Director Heidi Miller stepped up to take on the extra duties previously when former administrator Dan Duffy left to work for the village of Minooka. At that time, he said, Grundy County Board Chairman Ron Severson mentioned compensation, but it did not happen.
Pommier has stepped up a second time now with former administrator Shawn Hamilton leaving for Park Ridge, Galloway said.
Vice Chairman Tom Poole said the board voted against having an interim administrator. Galloway said Pommier has stepped up to handle the duties of the administrator that had to be handled, such as working with the accountant on the budget.
“All I know is she has a lot of affect on the county,” Galloway said. “She stepped up to the plate and did what we needed her to do . . . so anyway I’m putting it out there for discussion.”
Poole said she is paid time and a half when she works more than 40 hours a week. Pommier said this is accurate, but she only takes that when she stays late for meetings, not when she is putting more time in to work on administrator duties, such as the budget.
Committee member Dave Boggs said he is not against the idea, but that he would like a specific number.
Member Frank Halpin asked what Miller would be getting for her services last year.
“Heidi wants no compensation, she said just a few days off instead. She did a lot last year, less this year,” Severson said.
Galloway suggested giving Pommier $2,000.
“Two thousand is probably underpayment, but it’s something,” he said.
Assistant State’s Attorney Susan Bates said the county does not do bonuses.
“This is probably a special occasion . . . we asked again and she did it again. It kind of goes beyond her role of secretary,” Severson said.
Halpin motioned to deny compensation for Pommier, which was seconded by Poole. Galloway and Boggs voted against the denial. Galloway said they would look into it more and bring it up again. Committee members John Almer, John Roth and Ralph Wagner were absent from the meeting.
In August, the county board voted in favor of hiring a new administrator, but voted against hiring an interim. The Personnel Committee has been conducting interviews for the position.
Also at the August meeting, the board rejected a plan backed by Chairman Severson for the board chairman and vice chairman, along with members of the current county staff, to absorb the county administrator’s responsibilities until after the November election.
In other business, the committee voted in favor of including the purchase of a new payroll and budget system in the 2013 budget.
The new system, called MSI software, is from a municipal software company called Harris. The system would handle accounts payable, provide a cashiering system, a general ledger, human resource and payroll programs. It will allow for employees to access their pay stubs, benefit hours and W-2s electronically, and allow for credit card collection.
The county is budgeting $46,940 for the system, plus $650 for mileage for Harris employees to train county employees on the system. Rich Plese, sales manager for the company, lowered the mileage costs from about $1,500.
The full board will vote on the contract with Harris next month. Also next month, the budget will be voted on, following a public hearing on the budget held at 5:15 p.m. Nov. 13, prior to the regular meeting.
