“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Friday, August 08, 2014

Peru Looking for Financial Officer to Replace Budget Director Hylla

With Gary Hylla leaving, the Budget Director position for which he was hired as an addon from the Treasury position. Peru will be hiring a replacement with the title of Financial Officer. He/she will operate independent of the City Clerks Office and will have their own office elsewhere in the city hall building.

Originally called a CFO. the position will be simply titled Financial Officer. They are looking for a CPA with at least 3 years experience. Duties will include supervising bookkeeping, checking with auditors, cash flow, budget, financial planning and coordinate utility billing.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

This great news and shows how the city is being properly run these days. Was not and am not a supporter of current administration but have to say things seem really headed the right direction. Looks like the elected officials are finally setting policy and letting their managers do their jobs. We don't need to keep hiring though it looks like we have enough bosses right now. If in time we need more we can add but lets face it if they go out and keep hiring people we will never get rid of them.

Anonymous said...

This makes no sense. Why would you ant to do this? So Hylla is not going to run for Teasurer in 2017, so what! He has a lot of term left to go. When that time comes the people can elect someone else. What the hell is the hurry here? This move stinks of politics and it makes absolutely no sense to create yet another high dollar position while Hylla is still in office. C'mon, what is this really all about Lois?
Is Hylla resigning his elected position like O'Beirne did? Creating another politically motivated position which will have no independent authority and will be totally vulnerable to the political influence of our incompetent mayor and aldermen is just placing the foxes in charge of the hen-house. This never ending series of phony political hiring and appointments reveals without a doubt that there is nobody in charge in Peru. It's absolute chaos and a "Free for All". Before you know it we will be pushing $500,000 annually in salaries for all the phony-baloney hired and appointed positions in Peru. What the hell is going on here Lois? Who is pushing for this and why?

Anonymous said...

Was he asked to step down this is what I am thinking

Anonymous said...

I think Hylla is tired of being treated like crap by Harl and figures he doesn't need this gig any more. Time to move on and enjoy life.

Anonymous said...

The Treasurer is an elected position that does not have a professional certification requirement. In theory, the treasurer would provide oversight only as a third set of eyes on the bookkeeping. However, things are much more complicated in todays world. Having a CFO, Comptroller, or whatever you want to call it on staff is necessary.
The other option is to only allow CPA's to be Treasurer - I believe that would require a change to the Illinois Municipal Code. They would also demand a higher salary - as Mr. Hyla did.
The best answer is to change our form of Government to Council Manager IAW the Municipal Code. This would require a full time manager with the proper credentials to run the city. He would have the authority to hire or contract accounting services to professionals with the correct credentials.
I hope Steve W's petition drive is for the Council Manager form and not just changing how aldermen are elected.

Anonymous said...

11:39 No his petition is designed to open up more alderman seats. The same as the last petition but having 4 city wide seats as opposed to 2 in the last failed petition. I don't think he had enough signatures to get the petition on the November election.

Anonymous said...

Does the government of the City of Peru need a bookkeeper, a accountant, or a Certified Public Accountant. Each level demands a significant difference in payroll and I don't believe it is necessary to bring in a battleship when only a rowboat is needed.
Other cities of 10,000 keep a good set of efficient books without a CPA salary. Other cities also expand with representation of the Chamber of Commerce only. Peru has a Director of Economic Development, a Springfield Lobbyist, a internet corporation plus the Chamber of Commerce.
How much does Peru pay more than other cities to employ all its bells and whistles.
Maybe it is time to hire a management efficiency firm to consult with and determine what Peru actually needs.

Anonymous said...

12:46, of course Peru probably has more economic development than just about any city of 10,000. I'm not saying this is because of these positions but there are very few cities of 10,000 people who would not want to be where Peru is today.

I'm going to add that Mr. Hylla brought a tremendous amount of competence and management to the city. He did a good job managing the funds and having a long term plan. Despite the negativity on here, people who know all know that his expertise will be greatly missed. You will never get a better deal than what the city got here.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Peru lost another business, a welding supply on Wenzel Road. It looks pretty empty this AM.

Anonymous said...

2:58. I think they moved to the North West industrial area...don't know what that area is officially called.

Ambassador of Cowbell Appreciation said...

I think this function should be outsourced – contracted to a private accounting firm with another firm to conduct the audits. This idea of a CFO or whatever title is going to be invented is eerily reminiscent of Dixon. I hope they pay attention to history and at least steer clear of Horse Ladies. Now an accountant that appreciates the finer points of cowbell would be acceptable. Anyone that appreciates cowbells is honest and dependable. And as I like to point out, Peru needs more cowbell!

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:28 PM This development occurred before the last 5 years previous to when Peru had a Director of Economic Development, Springfield lobbyist and internet corporation which rents from the Dir. of E.D.
Where is Peru today in comparison to 5 years ago ahead, even or behind? What trend is Peru travelling in comparison to LaSalle, Morris, Ottawa etc.
Does anyone besides Hylla truthfully know why he is leaving? Similar to Sean and Frank we probably never will know? You can brag up and cover up all you want Peru practices Protective Politics rather than the promised Transparency.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:28 PM This development occurred before the last 5 years previous to when Peru had a Director of Economic Development, Springfield lobbyist and internet corporation which rents from the Dir. of E.D.
Where is Peru today in comparison to 5 years ago ahead, even or behind? What trend is Peru travelling in comparison to LaSalle, Morris, Ottawa etc.
Does anyone besides Hylla truthfully know why he is leaving? Similar to Sean and Frank we probably never will know? You can brag up and cover up all you want Peru practices Protective Politics rather than the promised Transparency.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Hyllas' decision creates a tremendous opportunity for occupational finalization in Peru. With the simple combination of Ch. PPD, Trustee, Peru Township, Co Director of ESDA, Co Director of Public Works and Electrical Dept And Ch PFD, Building and Zoning Inspector, Co Director of ESDA, Fire Marshall, private business owner, Co Director of Public Works and Electrical Dept, plus potentiall Treasurer and Budget Director all performed to the tune of 9 to 5.

Anonymous said...

Kristy has been posting daily on her blog, if you have not read it lately now would be the time to catch up.

Anonymous said...

Did not know where to post this but thought it was very important and everyone should make a push to see the public safety plan for the upcoming concert. Kristy's blog has tremendous information, and her latest post seems to indicate that lack of proper safety planning is maybe the norm in the concert industry.
I can personally assure you that it is ONLY the norm in the cheap, profit grabbing outdoor concerts across the country. Indoor venues must face strict rules . For dozens of years, the industry has been trying to self police and try to keep regulations from coming down. It is a high profit, low investment endeavor.
Too many concert promoters look at fixed venues as different, as needing regulation because they have LOTS of concerts. But that is crazy thinking, the actual Risk is the same each time. It is actually much HIGHER in unscreened, no assigned seat, PAID outdoor event.
Complain, do FOIA, you have a right to see the details of the plans from the past and for the future, to see the minutes from safety meetings. It is YOUR concert venue. It is YOUR money.
The city at least needs to know many are watching constantly, because they are far too relaxed in assessing liability with YOUR tax dollars. Its much more than a few thousand bucks for farm land . Its much more than a photo op.
The insurance company should have a full copy of the plans if in fact they have agreed to insure these events. There is NO standard liability insurance contract that would cover the City for this. If the only insurance is provided by the promoter as required by ordinance, then it should readily be available by FOIA.

Anonymous said...

It is way past time to study the job descriptions and job analysis of all elected and appointed jobs in the City of Peru before any more hirelings.
Most certainly a long range and short range plan should be drawn up and instituted before we pay taxes for a payroll of all the right people being on the wrong jobs.

Anonymous said...

Kristy raises some excellent points in her latest post. One possible explanation is that Alderman Perez also followed up on the FOIA safety request she made and was sent a copy, while they inexcusably ignored Kristy.

But one thing is a certainty. If twenty citizens sent in an FOIA for the safety plan and followed up with the AG as Kristy did, it is far more likely that a very detailed safety plan would have been prepared , released and discussed while something could have been done. As it is, again the City gets to cross its fingers and through a concert, its riskiest one yet.

People can call Kristy a nut. But if something happens that could have been prevented it is us that will carry some of the responsibility. I am certain Kristy will take no pleasure or pride if unsafe things happen, but at least she can go to bed at night knowing she tried. Will we be able to say the same thing?

FOIA is not hard.