THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2008
New Contract Terms Finally Set For Bajor
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
The signatures are affixed, the i's dotted and the t's crossed.
Des Plaines' new City Manager Jason Bajor is settling into his new job secure in the knowledge that he will reap an annual salary of $138,000- $20,000 more than he was paid in his previous position as assistant city manager.
Salary, however, is only part of the story. City Council members and Bajor came to an agreement effective Mar. 3 that requires taxpayers to fund a number of benefits for the 38-year-old administrator who was originally hired by the city in the year 2000 as assistant to the city manager. Among the benefits are a monthly car allowance, vacation, sick and other paid leave, payments for major medical, dental, prescription drug, and life insurance. Also, the city will regularly pay into Bajor's retirement program an amount of 10.10% of his annual salary.
Besides that, the city will also pay for dues and subscriptions Bajor wants for his participation in national, regional, state and local associations as well as pay for any travel expenses incurred to attend meetings or other functions related to his job. In addition, the city will pay whatever costs are necessary to insure Bajor in relation to his job and defend him against any legal action that might be filed.
Exactly how much the city's contract with its new city manager will cost taxpayers is unclear, but it will certainly exceed substantially his $138,000 salary.
The contract's time frame is indefinite, however, the city may terminate him at any time by a vote of the majority of City Council. Should that occur, the city is required to pay Bajor six months severance pay or $69,000. If Bajor chooses to leave his job, he must give the city at least six weeks written notice.
What aldermen agreed to in the contract with Bajor is fairly common with city managers throughout Chicago's suburbs. The City Council vote to approve conditions of the contract was 5 to 2 with Aldermen Rosemary Argus (8th) and Laura Murphy (3d) casting "no" votes saying they preferred the hiring of someone else.