Glencoe Village Manager Phil Kiraly started the new year with an amended contract highlighted by an increased salary as he presides over a reorganization of village personnel.
At their Dec. 21 meeting, trustees voted in the consent agenda, where items are not debated, exercising another amendment in Kiraly’s employment agreement increasing his annual salary to $275,000. His old contract awarded him $252,370 annually.
Kiraly, who took over as village manager in November 2013, also received a $20,000 bonus as he has in previous years.
“We continue to think he is terrific,” Village President Howard Roin said after the meeting. “He is a huge asset to the village. He has put together a fabulous team. People want to work for him. His lieutenants are all first rate as they all want to work for Phil because it is a good working experience when you are there and it is a good steppingstone if you decide you are leaving.”
Roin added, “He is not the highest paid village manager but we want him to be in that neighborhood and we want him to stay.”
The changes in Kiraly’s annual salary as he is set to preside over a reorganized village staff. Pioneer Press reported the changes last week that are now set for the Glencoe administration. In addition the village is welcoming new faces with the recent hirings of Sean Loughran as public safety director and Monica Sarna as public works director.
“I am going to need to continue to work closely with them and continue to spend a great deal of time with them as they get to know Glencoe and the community,” Kiraly said.
Among the changes in the staff will be Assistant Village Manager Sharon Tanner being named the first village human resources director and Nikki Larson, will now be deputy village manager/chief financial officer.
“I think Nikki has a tremendous ability to manage time and juggle a lot of things and she will continue to do that,” Kiraly said.
Kiraly noted another goal with the changes to have preparations in place in case if he were to face extreme circumstances.
“We are working to be as focused as possible to work on succession planning and making sure the organization doesn’t skip a beat if something happens,” he said.
Kiraly also started Jan. 1 as the president of the Illinois City/County Management Association, an organization promoting local government management.
However, he does not expect his ILCMA responsibilities to interfere with his work in Glencoe.
“It is not an insignificant role,” he said. “But it also not one that requires a great deal of extra time outside of the office.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
