A $7,000 annual raise for the general manager of Gary Public Transportation Corp approved as part of its budget troubles the Gary Common Council’s finance committee chairwoman since the official doesn’t live in the city.
General Manager Daryl Lampkins’ raise to $99,000 was in a contract the corporation’s board had approved and the council accepted last week when it passed the budget. But LaVetta Sparks-Wade, D-6th, finance committee chair, said the salary increase concerns her because Lampkins, who has worked for the company for 11 years, is a resident of South Holland, Ill., and is one of seven of the company’s 10 ranking officials who do not live in the city.
Of the pay raise, Sparks-Wade said, “this situation slipped by us, although perhaps I should say it slipped by me,” adding, “I would have brought this up sooner if I had caught it.”
Despite her concerns, she voted for the two ordinances that related to the bus company’s budget.
Under existing procedures, the Gary Public Transportation Corp. puts together its own budget, which is submitted to the common council for a final review. Similar procedures are in place for the Gary/Chicago International Airport and Gary Redevelopment Commission budgets.
Sparks-Wade has tried making an issue of residency for municipal employees during the budget process. While she originally suggested cutting off funding for city agencies and programs employing non-Gary residents, the council ultimately went along with promises from Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson that future hires will be limited to city residents.
Sparks-Wade said she particularly wanted to focus on the city bus company because 23 of its 72 employees do not live in Gary. Although company officials have said that their heavy reliance on federal funds means they cannot apply a strict residency requirement, particularly since GPTC bus routes stretch into surrounding communities such as Merrillville and Crown Point.
Lampkins was not present when the budget was approved. He previously has said his residency does not violate any applicable rules.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
