Park Ridge Council increases city manager's pay to $155,000

The Park Ridge City Council voted unanimously to increase Acting City Manager Joe Gilmore’s annual salary to $155,000 at a public meeting on Monday night.

“I feel Joe is deserving of this increase. I think he’s really done yeoman’s work in both capacities,” Acting Mayor Marty Maloney said, referencing Gilmore’s original role as finance director and his added role of acting city manager.

Joe Gilmore’s annual salary has been $140,000 since he took on the additional responsibility of managing city hall after the resignation of former City Manager Shawn Hamilton in May.

Aldermen John Moran and Roger Shubert expressed confidence in the Gilmore’s performance, and they mentioned receiving late night emails from Joe Gilmore concerning city business.

City officials did not expect Gilmore to fill the role for so long, but legal limitations on hiring a new manager precluded efforts to find a replacement.

“In an acting capacity, you hope for the person to kind of keep the ship afloat and Joe has gone above and beyond that,” Nicholas Milissis said, phoning into the meeting. “Not only has he kept the city working, he’s been proactive and he has help set the path of the future too.” Aldermen mentioned how Gilmore has helped steer the city's strategic planning.

Joe Gilmore’s pay will now be equal to the former city manager’s salary, which, as of April, was the highest in city hall. According to the 2016 Park Ridge Treasurer’s report, 47 city employees had annual salaries above $100,000.

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