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Mayor appoints interim finance director as council debates staffing and budget pressures
Summary
The council approved Caron Johnson as interim finance director and a leasing agreement with GovTemps USA; the meeting also approved a bills list of $1,883,909.35 and a proposal to discuss non‑union salary increases in executive session after a public speaker sharply criticized the mayor’s staffing and transparency.
At the May 6 Crest Hill City Council meeting the mayor appointed Caron Johnson as interim finance director and the council approved a related employee‑leasing agreement with GovTemps USA LLC. Caron Johnson told the council she would begin work the following day.
Treasurer Glenn Packlin presented a bills list totaling $1,883,909.35; the council approved the bills on a roll call vote. Packlin also requested that the proposed non‑union employee salary increases for fiscal year 2024–25 be discussed in executive session; council agreed to move the matter into executive session and, if appropriate, act on it afterward.
During public comment a lengthy speaker sharply criticized the mayor’s leadership, raised concerns about the number of department heads who have left under the mayor’s tenure, questioned the fiscal impact of using leased/temporary executives and alleged a nearly $7 million budget deficit that she said had been reported during the budget hearings. The speaker urged more transparency and equal treatment of council members; the mayor acknowledged the remarks but did not take action during the meeting.
Council took no immediate policy actions beyond approving the appointment, the leasing agreement (Resolution No. 1229) and the bills list; the council then voted to convene executive session under cited statutory sections to discuss personnel and related matters.
