G14-95 (2) Ordinance No. G14-95
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING THE PAY PLAN FOR CERTAIN APPOINTED OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF ELGIN
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,
ILLINOIS:
Section 1 . That Ordinance No. G76-94 entitled "An
Ordinance Establishing a Pay Plan for Certain Appointed
Officers and Employees of the City of Elgin" passed
December 14, 1994 , be and is hereby amended by adding the
position title Assistant Corporation Counsel to Range 35C of
the management group salary and benefit plan.
Section 2 . That this ordinance shall be in full force
and effect from and after its passage and approval in the
manner provided by law.
s/ George VanDeVoorde
George VanDeVoorde, Mayor
Presented: March 8, 1995
Passed: March 8, 1995
Omnibus Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0
Recorded: March 9 , 1995
Published:
Attest:
s/ Dolonna Mecum
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
TELEPHONE 708/931-6100
FAX 708/931-5610
FOR HEARING IMPAIRED
TDD 708/931-5616
E 11611-;1 of
\ CITY OF ELGIN
150 DEXTER COURT ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120-5555
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May 15, 1995
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Richard B. Helwig, City Manager
SUBJECT: Legal Services for Code Enforcement
PURPOSE
The purpose of the memorandum is to provide information to
the Mayor and members of the City Council to consider adding
a full time attorney to the legal department to meet the
increasing demand for code enforcement support .
BACKGROUND
The 1995 proposed budget of the legal department indicated
that the current cost of prosecution services was approximate-
ly equal to the cost of a full time city attorney and that
the addition of a full time attorney would better serve the
increased demands for legal services by code administration
and provide some sorely needed assistance to the legal depart-
ment generally.
The 1995 combined budgets of the legal and code administra-
tion departments for outside legal services is $48, 000 .
Virtually the entire amount is earmarked for the prosecution
services including related consultation and advice. This
amount is approximately the cost for salary and fringe bene-
fits of hiring a full time attorney.
It would be much preferable to have an additional attorney
who did not prosecute traffic matters . Such an attorney
would be primarily responsible for code administration mat-
ters . The new position will serve other departments such as
the engineering department who have ordinance enforcement mat-
ters . The attorney would prosecute such matters and would
also provide necessary legal assistance, particularly with
respect to rental licensing and zoning and unique police
matters . Cases could be developed more soundly and effective-
ly. Of course, other members of the legal department would
also provide advice and assistance.
(i)
Printed on recycled paper
Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 15, 1995
Page 2
It would be much more desirable to continue the services of
the outside prosecutor for the prosecution of traffic and
other minor matters unrelated to code administration mat-
ters . The reason is that such prosecution occupies an entire
day each week, interrupts other duties and is clearly a "burn-
out" assignment . It would probably require an additional
$19, 000 annually to have a full-time attorney and contract
for the continued prosecution of traffic violations and minor
matters . For the remainder of 1995 the additional costs
would approximate $14,000 .
It is vital that the attorney be provided with a professional
environment in which to work and that the attorney function
as an integral member of the legal department. Although no
suitable space is currently ready, it appears that it is
possible to provide it through some rearrangement of offices
and interior remodeling.
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
None.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Increase of approximately $14 ,000 in 1994 and $19 ,000 in 1996 .
LEGAL IMPACT
The change enhances delivery of legal services .
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended an additional full time attorney be author-
ized whose primary and continuing assignment is code adminis-
tration matters . It is further recommended to authorize
negotiation of an agreement with the city prosecutor for
traffic and miscellaneous matter and continue search for
adequate office space.
Respectfully submitted,
Erwin W. Jentsch
Corporation Counsel
Richard B. Helwig
City Manager
EWJ/nr