Vernon Council approves ordinance raising salary ranges for key municipal officers and moves to bolster CFO recruitment

Vernon Township Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 25-15, which amends salary ranges for certain township officers and employees and establishes higher caps for specified roles, during its regular meeting. Council members said the change is intended to make Vernon more competitive in recruiting for a full-time business administrator and a chief financial officer.

The ordinance, which councilors discussed as a salary-range adjustment rather than an automatic increase, includes new caps referenced in the meeting as "175 and 180." The transcript does not specify units for those figures. Council members clarified that the ordinance sets allowable ranges and that any individual hire or raise would be negotiated within the new range rather than automatically moving a part-time employee to the top of the scale.

"This is the salary range that this township is required to to have," one council member said during debate, adding that ranges allow the township to offer more competitive compensation packages. Council discussion noted that the township previously had a part-time business administrator position paid around the low- to mid-100s (figures in the transcript: "102,000 or 105" for a part-time BA; no benefits were attached to that position as described in discussion).

Council members recorded a unanimous roll-call vote to place the ordinance on the floor and to carry it. The motion to place Ordinance 25-15 on the floor was made by Council member Bucheri and seconded by Council member Sparta; the roll call recorded 'yes' from members present.

During the general public comment period, resident Steve Dunlop commended councilors’ efforts but urged the body to resolve a longer-running question about salary policy before current terms expire. He said earlier discussions had included a proposal for a 2% annual increase over 10 years, which he described as having been suggested by a former councilor; he urged the council to determine a final approach before responsibilities change.

Dunlop also raised two operational concerns: ensuring municipal vehicles are clearly marked (he noted excluding unmarked police vehicles) and moving forward promptly with CFO recruitment. Council members responded that the ordinance’s adoption triggers a 20-day estoppel period before the new salary range takes effect, which affects when the township can legally advertise positions with the new range. Several councilors said they were open to using professional recruitment services if necessary to find qualified candidates.

The council did not specify a timeline or dollar-amount detail beyond the figures discussed on the floor; the transcript records that one interim firm is performing CFO duties while the position remains vacant.

The council adjourned after completing the agenda. Next procedural steps identified in the meeting: the 20-day estoppel period before the ordinance’s effective date and ongoing recruitment for the CFO position.