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Rep. Hanahan Goes On„ Trial RKP. TIIOMAS IIANAIIAN On Tuesday of this week jury selection was started in the extortion and mail fraud trial of State Hep. Thomas Hanahan, (Continued on page «) Scott's Opinion Clerk Fee Question To Council Aldermen of McHenry will be confronted J^londay night with renewed discussion as to whether or noii former city clerks should be required to repay money received from particular fees since adoption of the new Illinois Constitution of 1971. c - • The matter came into the news again this week with announcement that Attorney General William Scott had issued an opinion on the long debated matter of fee collections. Council members were scheduled to receive their copies of that opinion Thursday. „ According to William Walling, an employee of the Opinion division of Scott's office, the letter concerning this opinion is seven pages long. In essence, it states that there are certain fees which the city clerk collects, including fishing and hunting licenses and death certificates, for which fees belong to the city and not to the clerk. Scott's opinion was a definitive answer that fee money under the '71 Constitution belongs to the municipality, superseding in authority any city ordinance that might exist. However, the attorney general adroitly sidestepped the question that asked whether money collected and retained by city clerks should be repaid. Most McHenry city officials this past year denied knowledge of the local custom that gave fee collections to the clerk The legal opinion also concerned another area of interest locally , , The city clerk appoints a deputy voter registrar. Scott says it is a decision to be made between city officials and the clerk's office whether this money is retained by the registrar or goes to the city. Two McHenry city clerks have held office since the new Constitution was adopted and prior to the appointment of the present office holder, Barbara Gilpin. They were Earl R. Walsh and Terry Wilde. It was with the appointment of Mrs. Gilpin that the city kept all fee money. The policy of allowing clerks to retain these fees was made by municipal officials many years ago when government operated on a small scale and the clerk's salary was low. At that tifhe, officials felt th& fee collection would compensate for an inadequate salary. The custom was maintained through the years. However, a new auditor employed by the city of McHenry began an investigation last August when he was unable to find an accouting of these funds on city books. That investigation revealed the fee policy as it had existed for many years. It was soon afterward that the attorney general's opinion was sought. Mayor Stanek said he would read the letter at Monday's Council meeting, at which time a discussion will be asked on repayment of the fees. The request for an opinion came from the director of Local Government Affairs since no governmental unit is answered directly by the attorney general's office. . Optimism , No Action In Negotiations There wa^ optimism but no action !following the executive sessiori of the Consolidated Grade School District 15 board for negotiations talks Tuesday night The discussion session lasted an hour and fifteen minutes. When members emerged, it was announced that while nothing was resolved, a meeting of the negotiations teams will be held at 7 p.m. Monday. Jan. 31, at the Main street administration building. This, too, will be an executive session and not open to the public or news media. (Continued on page 8) * 1IITUU* THE MCHENRY PLAINDEALER +!t\ i>\>^ 'SERVING THE CHAIN-O-LAKES REGION SINCE 1875" VOLUME 101 NUMBER 41 FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1977 1 SECTION 18 PAGES 20* City Wage - Benefit Discussions Held ion Art Exhibit "Tonight's meeting is strictly an information-gathering session We'll be gathering data for several meetings before making any decisions." Those words of Alderman Jack Pepping prefaced the initial session of the City Council Finance committee meetings dealing with the wage structure and benefit programs lor city employees during the next fiscal year. Monday night, the com­ mittee, consisting of Pepping, and Aldermen Bill Bolger and George Harker, met and listened to wage and benefit recommendations from various department heads within the city structure. On hand to present wage recommendations were Bar­ bara Gilpin from the city clerk's office. Fred Meyers from the public works department, and Lieutenant Bob Kranz, representing Chief Ken Espey and the city police department. The police department recommended to the finance committee pay increases for all employees. ». The present starting and maximum salary for a patrolman is $11.014-$13,937. If the recommended increase is; okayed, the new range would be from $12,000-$15,000, ap­ proximately a 9 percent in­ crease. It was also recommended that a sergeant be paid from $15,000-$17,000, rather than the present $14,355-$16,600. Lieutenant and chief salaries would go up accordingly. The police department is also requesting $150 per year in clothes allotment, up $25 from this fiscal year "The $125 figure hasn't been changed for several years," Pepping noted. "We also recommend that a flat check be given to the men for their use rather than having the men buy their clothes, and then produce a receipt for reimbursement," Kranz said. "We believe the $25 increase is needed because, for example, last year, I bought two pairs of pants, three long sleeve shirts, and three short sleeve shirts, and I spent $12 more than my allotment." The police department also recommended flat 7 percent pay increases for all other employees, including dispat­ chers. "Espey told me he plans on adding one additional Arson Charge Against Three Glen Messer, co-chairman for the first annual art exhibit sponsored by Legion Post 491, views painting of the country's first President, George Washington. A wide selection of offerings by talented artists will be included in the exhibit, which is free to the public Jan. 29 through Feb. 1 at the Legion clubhouse, Ringwood road. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD A McHenry man and a Rich­ mond youth were among three persons arrested Tuesday evening and charged with two counts each of arson David C. Wohlert. 4606 W Parkview, McHenry. John S Beall. 5712 Liberty street. Rich mond. and James B Dahlke, Genoa City, Wis. , were al l arrested by McHenry County Sheriff's police in connection with a barn fire at 9506 N. Solon road. Tuesday morning at 3:50. An investigation was initiated by the Detective division of the police depart­ ment, after the fire was ex tinguished. The Richmond Fire depart­ ment had responded to the call, but the entire dairy barn was engulfed in flames. The fire was extinguished, but the barn was a total loss with an estimated value of $50,000. The investigation was begun as it was learned that an in­ cendiary device was used in an attempt to burn the house to the ground also The device caused only minimal damage to the interior of the residence. The home and barn had been vacant since Dec. 1, and was about to be sold The investigation continued throughout the day and that evening, until the three sub­ jects were taken into custody and charged with two counts each of arson. A court date and bond were not set at press time. ? As this column^ is being written, several incomplete petitions for city aldermanic po^t1?.'Off through the community. It is obvious there is new surge of interest in municipal government. This is good! For many years the focus of interest was on school elec­ tions. The more mercenary thinkers found this to be a conundrum, for to them it was unthinkable that their neigh­ bors would be willing to give the time and effort necessary to take charge of the community 's biggest business - Schools. Since the opening day for filing to fill school board vacancies is almost a month in the future, there can only be a guess as to the amount of in­ terest they will evoke. Schools have had their problems compounded in recent years by many factors outside their control. Not the least of these is money - or the lack of it; the uncertainties of state and federal funding; the necessity to meet requirements to obtain this funding; and many others. It is no wonder that school board members sometimes wonder if it is worthwhile. More often than not it is criticism rather than praise leveled at them for their efforts, even though there is no com pensation. Pride in educational progress in their home com­ munity, plus the self assurance that they have something to contribute, can be the only reasons men and women continue to offer their services. There is compensation for municipal officials, although tho amour,! is pr"Ka l ' n» ' < worth the headaches. Anyone who has followed McHenry city government in recent years realizes that here, too, new- problems have arisen that sometimes seem to defy a solution. When one considers different personalities among aldermen representing an expanding city, it is not surprising that heated debates sometimes are the outgrowth of matters that at one time would have been regarded as routine. There are different views on the subject of city official Compensation. V Some people feel that on the official level it is necessary to pay well enough to attract a good calibre official. Others believe this only tends to place a dollar sign on positions of community leadership that more often than not have been held by good men and women whose chief interest has been service to their community. There are good arguments on both sides of the issue Right now the focus of in­ terest is all on city government Only when the filing period opens for school board positions will we know whether the customary enthusiasm for educational matters in the McHenry- community still exists. We sincerely hope it . does, for the opportunity to serve was never greater. K A F American Legion Post 491, McHenry, will present its first annual art exhibit Saturday, Jan. 29, through Tuesday, Feb 1. at the Legion home on Ringwood road. Co-chairmen for the event are Glen Messer, Don Neubauer and Richard Sherwood The exhibit will be open to the public free pf charge, during the nouit. oi 7 and' lo.jo p.ru. Saturday, noon and 10 p.m. Sunday and 5 and 9:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Judging will be done by the renowned Daniel Czubak, who designed the jet aircraft DC-9- (Continued on page 8) Ski Outing Ends Abruptly With Discovery Of Theft An enjoyable evening of skiing came to an abrupt halt for four persons Sunday when all reported to sheriff's policc that their skis and poles had ,bC-c;/" fcf&r \ Robert Wans, McHenry, was one of four persons to report„ that at 9:20 p.m., someone stole his skis and poles while the equipment was outside the building at Lost Valley Ski Three New Aldermen In Prospect April 19 It appears that the city will have at least three new aldermen April 19, as only one of the four councilmen up for reelection has filed a petition signifying his candidacy. In the most recent move, first ward Alderman Jack Pepping has announced he will not seek reelection to a second term in office. "My biggest regret is that I won't have the opportunity to see finished many of the programs that have been started while I've been in of­ fice, " Pepping said. "But with my full time job, I just don't have the time to devote to the city that a councilman should." Pepping is not the only in­ cumbent who may remain on the sidelines on election day. Third ward Alderman James Wegener and fourth ward Alderman LaVerne Hromec have not indicated a desire to run for reelection, and have yet to take out petitions Only in the second ward, where Edward Datz is a can­ didate, is the incumbent run­ ning for reelection (Continued on page 8) resort, 1502 Sunset road, Spring Grove. Other persons reporting skis stolen were Michael Eibaeli, Elk Grove, Susan Vensel, Chicago, and. , Oak Park All had apparently laid the skis and poles against the side of the building while they went inside. Upon returning outside, they discovered their equip­ ment had been taken. Police are continuing their investigation. At 8:30 Monday evening, sheriff's police investigated a burglary at the home of Lilly Bergeson, 1015 Althoff, McHenry The theft was discovered by a neighbor, who had been wat­ ching the home in the owner's absence. EIntry had been made by breaking a kitchen window. Although there was evidence several areas of the home had been searched, all that ap­ peared to be missing was stereo with two speakers. (Continued on page 8) dispatcher when the new communications system is finished," Kranz said. The department is also satisfied with the present in­ surance plan, and wants jt to stay. Presently, the city pays for complete insurance coverage. In fact, not just the police department, but all depart­ ments were pleased with the present insurance policy. Concerning insurance, the Committee discussed an idea which may be attractive to some city employees. Presently, all city employees take the insurance because it is free, whether they need it or not. Some employees however, have spouses with excellent insurance coverage. Thus, the committee is considering a situation whereby, if a person is willing to forego the city in­ surance, he can receive compensation in another area, whether it be in the form of higher wages or more time off etc. When City Clerk Barb Gilpin gave her recommendations, she recognized a need for changes in the pay scales. She noted that an employee who is working at the top end of the pay scale for her particular job would have to take a pay cut when promoted to a new position with a new pay scale. "Nobckiy should take a cut in pay on a promotion," Pepping said. The situation came up because Mrs. Gilpin announced plans to name a deputy city clerk, and the person in mind would be taking a thirty dollar pay cut to move from the top of the employee scale to the bottom of the deputy city clerk scale. Mrs. Gilpin also noted that presently there are no benefits available for the two regular part time employees she has working for her. The com­ mittee promised to consider benefits for the two employees, who work twenty and thirty hours per week. Mrs. Gilpin also asked the Council for an uniform in­ terpretation of the Good Friday holiday. "My men work until about 12:30, and then get off to attend church." Meyer explained. Presently, the employees in the city clerk's office are ex pected to work a full eight hours on Good Friday. She also recommended a flat 7 percent pay increase across the board for all employees in her department. "I would also like a longevity clause for people at the top of the pay scale," she said The longevity clause would enable employees who have reached the maximum earning power to continue to receive raises as earned. Finally, Mrs. Gilpin stated that she plans no staff additions and that everyone in her department is pleased with the present insurance plan. When Supt. Meyer gave his recommendations, he men tioned to the committee the extensive work which his nine- man staff gets done. These nine full time men^ake care of the parks, do street repairs, handle snow and ice control, repair sewer breaks, repair public buildings, etc." he said "I just want to bring out that our men do work, and work hard." "Foremost in our thoughts," Meyer added, "is that the in­ surance policy must stay." Meyer also requested a 7 percent pay increase for all his employees, in accordance with what the city clerk's office is requesting The superintendent also stated that he would like to see a policy reinstated whereby an employee would be on duty at the city parks every day (Continued on page 8) In County Honors Band Book Fair Set At East Campus Jan. 31-Feb. 4 East campus is sponsoring a Book Fair Jan. 31 through Feb. 4. Educational Reading Ser­ vice, a professional Book Fair company, is furnishing the school with a wide selection of books for varied interests . Included are classics , biographies, adventure stor ies , science, nature. craf ts , mystery, f ict ion, and reference books. There will be books I rom many publishers and at popular prices. The display of books will be in the English Resource center at East campus, and students will be attending the fair during their English or speech classes. The organizing committee for the fair includes Mrs Beverly Aweve, speech teacher; Mrs. Harriet Chan­ dler. librarian: and Mrs. Jaci (Continued on page 8) £ The second annual county honors band will be in concert at Marian Central high school in Woodstock Sunday, Jan. 30, at 3 p.m. A small admission will be charged to defray expenses. The public is invited. McHenry East and West campus participants are front row, left to right, Wm. Toalson, director; Lori Robertson, Lori Harney, Mary Gattone and Pete Bender; Row 2, Ray Miller, Eileen Ahern, Robert Koester, Lou Thorns and Ken Stanek; Row 3, Paul Stanek, Lars Romme, Barb Romm?, Karen Anderson, Meg Humann and Mike Norlock; Row 4, Brett Thomas, Mart' Possum, Scott Wieck, Tamra Bieschke, Brad Hertel, Andy Iwanski, Ken Schultz and Tim Sb ; iei. The McHenry county honors band is made up of the best 10 percent of each school in the c; r They have been engaged in several concerts at several schools in the county this past week. Their director is Larry Livingston of Northern Illinois university. A selected jazz band will also appear at the Jan. 30 concert at Marian.