Under the new measures, the annual salary for the mayor will stay at $85,000, with an additional $12,000 for serving as liquor commissioner.
According to state law, any changes to elective offices must be enacted at least 60 days before the next election, allowing prospective candidates to decide whether to run. The next municipal election is scheduled for April 1.
Both ordinances were approved without comment as part of the consent agenda, following detailed discussions at the board’s Oct. 8 meeting.
Trustees largely agreed with Mayor Jack Lind’s proposal to reinstate the village clerk as a full-time role, citing the increasing responsibilities associated with the position. It was previously full-time until 2013, when Chuck Tokar stepped down as clerk to become mayor.
Lind, who has continued to serve as trustee alongside his duties as acting mayor, was appointed to the position by his fellow trustees when Tokar retired last October. He plans to run in the upcoming election on April 1 but anticipates opposition. So far, no candidates have officially declared their intent to run.
Village Clerk Barbara Harrison is nearing the end of her second term, currently earning a part-time salary of $22,000. She also plans to seek re-election. As of May 1, 2025, the start of the new term, the full-time clerk’s salary will be set at $70,000, with an additional $20,000 to serve as village collector. The collector is responsible for managing accounts payable and payroll for the village.
Both the mayor and clerk positions will receive annual raises of 2%, according to the ordinances.
Lind, a lifelong Chicago Ridge resident, described the role of mayor as “a calling,” not one to pursue for its salary. He had initially suggested reducing the mayor’s salary to $40,000 to help offset the cost of the increased clerk’s salary, but other trustees expressed concerns. They argued that a lower salary could deter qualified candidates from seeking what many consider the village’s most important position.
“We have a lot of development going on in this village over the next four years,” Trustee Bill McFarland noted.
In other business, the board approved a permit for Kumail Hussain, MD, and his brother Zain Hussain to open an international snack shop called Snack’d at Chicago Ridge Mall. During the meeting, the brothers presented a box of snacks that will be offered at the shop, including potato chips and chocolate candy from Europe and Asia.
“Our goal is to create the international experience for everyone,” said Kumail, a primary care physician at Rush-Copley Medical Group. “That’s just my part-time job,” he joked. Zain, who is attending law school, shared that their inspiration to open the shop came from their father, who was a store owner.
“Basically, we want the store to be a cultural phenomenon,” said Zain. “In addition to snacks, we are going to offer plush toys and games from the 1990s. There will be something for all ages.”
The board also granted a permit to the local Lions Club to collect supplies for hurricane victims in North Carolina. The “fill the truck” event is set for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Glenn Maker American Legion Post 1160, 10739 S. Ridgeland Ave. Donations will include cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, and hygiene products.
“The only thing they are not looking for is bottled water. They have plenty of that,” said Trustee Andrew Siegel, who is also a member of the Lions Club.
A detailed list of needed supplies is available on the village website, chicagoridge.org.
Perhaps the Village of Chicago Ridge will pay more attention to fining its property owners. It is a standard practice for the city to send their ordinance officer out to inspect garbage dumpsters 2 hours before scheduled weekly pick up. For example an apartment building: when a tenant moves out they leave behind furniture. There is an extra fee charged by the garbage collector for mattresses, couches, etc. One would think that it was reasonable to put these things out on the day of collection so the scavenger can get you an additional cost to pickup the bulk pickup. It costs about $50 per item. Hence the items are stacked up by the dumpster. The ordinance will issue you a ticket which you will appear at Chicago Ridge court on your Saturday. What are you to do?