Monday, August 20, 2012
Are You Free at 4:30 PM Township Meeting
The Peru Township Board will meet today at 4:30 PM. Rumor has it that salaries will be on the schedule with an increase possible. If you are interested and if you are free, please go. I cannot go today but looking forward to a comment from anyone that can go.
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56 comments:
While they vote themselves a raise, they should probably reduce their job task list too. The public just doesn't realize how hard it is to take care of 5 miles or roadway. I heard that they work too many hours for such low pay anyway these days. The Board should also increase the contributions to the employee's pension accounts. The few that are on the payroll and receive full benefits need so much more for their retirement and healthcare. Peru Township needs to set an example for all of the other townships in the state (or possibly the country) that don't offer benefits. We should always "stand out" you know. And while they are at it, they should probably borrow the necessary funds to pay for these increases from the accounts that are suppose to be used to assist the poor or those in need. We don't want to hand out too much money to those that need help now do we? While the Board is on a roll, they should probably reduce the number of annual meetings to only two a year: One for the public and the other for the very expensive Christmas party. Since their trucks are only a few years old, the board should start the bidding process for new equipment. Oh wait, I forgot, there is no bidding in these parts of the country. Silly me.
Hurry up Board. Time is a wasting. Get those salary changes in before someone cleans house and removes those cobwebs!
As most I have very little knowledge of the Township Board and its rulings. Will the township positions be voted on at the same time that the Mayor election is held? What positions are voted upon and what positions are appointed? What is the present pay for these positions and what is the term for each? Are there term limitations? What are the qualifications and responsibilities for each of these positions? How often does this board meet and how many hours per week/month does each position require?
I realize that this is way too much info for the blog to accumulate on its own time wise but I would appreciate it if the questions could be directed to the proper township officials for a publicized answer. I am sure they would be happy to answer all questions as they may create a interest in the board and also encourage more outside participation and candidates to run for township offices.
Normally a board cannot vote itself a salary increase or hourly wage increase for the same term of office they are serving. It has been the letter of the law that this board can only vote a increase of pay for the office holders following the next election.
Doesn't this hold true of the township office holders also? Who's their legal representative?
I know that 3 Peru residents attended this meeting and I hope they will comment on anything that happened.
Apparently Supervisor Hocking was not very happy to see an audience at the meeting. Although some had prepared information regarding salaries, the issue was "tabled" to form an ad hoc committee to research the topic-basically I assume in the hopes nobody will show at the next meetings. Since this "committee" will be discussing salaries it is imperative the actual salaries without all the benefits are posted prior to the vote.
The Tiki sold for approx. $850,000 under appraised value of I believe approx. $1.2-which is interesting since this area is part of the Eakas/North Infrastructure project but that is another story!
Expenses for the month:
Township fund: approx $18,300
Road fund: approx $19,000
General assistance fund: approx $2,100
(since this was my first meeting attended for the Township forgive my figures for not being exact-I was more interesting in observing instead of documenting exact figures)
This meeting last 40 minutes.
Note of interest-as I was leaving Supervisor Hocking felt it necessary to call me a deragotory name in front of the entire township board including Chief Bernabie excuse me "different hat" Trustee Bernabie. Of course I turned around, re-entered the room, and questioned Supervisor Hocking's immature comment. From vehemently suppressing the salary information vote to name calling township residents; Mr. Hocking clearly displays behavior associated with a typical bully. This type of behavior is NOT the direction our local governments are moving towards and are working adamantly at all levels to extinguish in children and in adults (who quite frankly should know better).
Kristy
Kristy
I hope you recorded this meeting. You know, audio recording is often just as effective as video.
Mr. Hocking, I hope that is not true, and I especially hope that the word was not degrading females in any type of way. I would assume that since you are in the public image as a real estate salesman that you would not want to jeopardize that image by saying a derogatory personal comment about someone at a public forum and as a public official. Not good in my opinion Mr. Hocking.
No witnesses to the name calling.
Kristy, you are to be complimented for re-entering the room and confronting Hocking. Truthfully question calling Hocking a bully as a bully has to have a characteristic which is superior to the person they are harassing - such as a mental or physical advantage of which I am positive that you possess superiority in both in comparison to Hocking.
In regards to Hockings immaturity in calling you a derogatory name he is showing his inability to hold a responsible public office. Treating one township resident who he is representing is a indication of how he will treat other township residents if they disagree with and if he was elected to a full term. Maybe he should remember that he is appointed not a elected official.
A appointed official who is really on the hot seat of Peru politics after his recent comments on the salaries of Peru Township.
You should receive a apology from Hocking and his associative board members and specifically if he will not apologize they should force him to resign to preserve what goodwill of the people they have left.
Someone who will accept $39,000 for a part time job in Peru who has no specific qualifications, no prior management experience or education in government procedures and is showing tendencies of being in need of anger management is not one who I feel belongs as my representative or who I want in that position in the future.
Kristy remember the old adage that a person shows their intelligence by the vocabulary they use and good luck. Why don't you run for the township supervisor? Give it a thought - your intelligent, you need a primary job, the pay per hour is so ridiculous that it could only be termed as "easy money" at half the wages and you have participated in Peru politics much more than the incumbent.
Give it some thought Hocking will not have time to campaign if he intends to perform his duties as a township supervisor, local real estate agent and collecting a pension and benefits from Local 150 Operating Engineers. Township supervisor will also total up more benefits. Maybe he should step aside and give someone else a opportunity to make a living.
3 residents went to the meeting? Nobody cares.
please video tape township meetings , so us that can't go can see how they run things too .
also continue to video tape city meetings . i will donate money for this , just let me know who to make the check out to .I'm sure others would too .
I wonder if Janko wants to be represented by such people?
Yea! any witnesses Kristy? File a harrasment suit against the TWP. Who was all at this meeting?
Janko should dump this guy before this whole thing mushrooms.
The story is that Peru Township is looking at pay cut issues. Not salary increases. Shame on you for distorting the facts.
Rumor has it all three were referred to as snakes in a personal comment. This is hardly bullying. Enough of the dramatics people!
Those operating engineers are on the mark with political opportunities. Nothing like those union campaign contributions.
0:02 PM
Thoroughly inappropriate comment in a public venue from an official of the Peru Twp and certainly not something to be shrugged off.
Snakes? Who? Do they bite?
9:57 The Operating Engineers must have a good training program in that they are operating both the City of Peru and Peru Township.
Anon 9:00 This is the first time I have heard that Peru Township is looking at cutting their own pay. Has anyone else besides Anon 9:00 heard of Peru Twp. the second highest paid township in the State of Illinois cutting their ridiculously high pay before Anons 9:00 comment. They should not only cut their own pay they should give the majority of what they have already received back!
Appointed positions in government is called favoritism by all accounts. I'm a wife of a city employee! And my husband and I had Janko (Hocking-as our real estate agent) when house hunting. After what I've seen and been reading in regards to the Township and it's administration I'm sadly disappointed. Also I will not recommend Hocking to anybody regarding real estate! Hocking should resign or be fired. Shame on him!!!
10:49 Read the Newstribune. It must have been discussed at the recent meeting. Probably the 3 that attended the meeting may have forgot that small detail. They may have been busy looking for a conflict instead of making observations. So much for accurate reporting, it makes us wonder about the name calling.
A source to learn about Townships:
http://www.toi.org/
The download center has informative reading materials.
Kristy
Wife of employee.....was your husbands job a result of favoritism or skills, knowledge? And what special skill did he have coming into his job? And your calling out favoritism about appointing positions.
11:20 Am
I don't believe too many people look to the N.T. for accuracy or fact. They avoid anything controversial and the twp. is actually that. There is supposed to be one more article about Peru Twp and how they don't help the indigent that seems rather slow to be published in the N.T.
11:46. I would have to say 75% favoritism.
Please be advised at the meeting it was announced by Supervisor Hocking an Ad Hoc committee would be formed to research salaries-this is exactly how it was presented because a few quested what "ad hoc" meant and received the "glare" and this township member was informed to suppress the salary information for the third time he informed the board he had brought to the meeting. Those indeed are the facts.
Since Mr. Hocking had that information suppressed I can not confirm nor deny an increase or decrease in township salaries only that some members had information to present to the board to discuss salaries per the Agenda.
Kristy
Ask all employees to provide a DETAILED task list for the number of hours they work. Better yet, ask them to document the project and location where they were working and the equipment they used. Put 2 and 2 together people. Rumor has it that some of the employee's children also work for the township. Conflict of interest? Let the video games begin!
Anon 11:20 AM Please furnish the date of the newspaper saying the Twp. was going to discuss a pay cut for themselves. Have had no luck in finding it.
Did they say they are going to give some back?
It's the same old song and dance. It all comes down to who you know, whose back you scratch, whose a-- you kiss, who you have after dinner (meetings) drinks with. It amazes me that when topics, issues,concerns of taxpayers are brought to the forefront (blogs) those who are in question cease to ignor commenting on blog. MAKES ONE WONDER WHY THEY DONT. People do work until evening hours so therefore a 4:30 meeting is not accommodating. I guess township employees will be seeking overtime compensation for later meetings so possible more people might attend. Or maybe they don't want too many people to attend. Sad, but probably true. Kristy, good for you for going back in. Also, body language speaks volumes.
How many jobs does Mike Hocking have?? If he has several than how can he put very many hours into administrator for the township to compensate for his HIGH SALARY? Let me get my grandkids "Jack in the Box" out of the attic.
Kristy, thanks for the clarification on the salary issue. Its troubling that the information was suppressed as a result of citizens attending the meeting. Lets just say maybe they are looking at cutting the salaries of those who are elected or appointed. How much research do you need to get the information on salaries? About 10 minutes on the internet. Just ask the newstribune for their copy of the study. Whats the big deal and why have a committee formed?
10 hours a week x 52 weeks ( in a year) = 520 hours per year. $40,000 (approx. salary per year).
divide $40,000 by 520 (hours) = $76.92 per hour at 10 hours per week for 52 weeks (1 year). DONT FORGET BENEFITS NOT INCLUDED HERE. Or are they? Maybe Mike Hocking puts more than 10 hours per week in. But, I don't know for doing what. Maybe HOCKING can enlighten us. ???!!!
I thought I read in NT what HOCKINGS salary is. ?? Could someone clarify his exact salary? I do vividly remember the look on his face in that picture along with article.
Imagine that. Hocking thinks township salaries should be frozen. That's because he's happy with his salary. Does Mr. Hocking think people are stupid? Most people can read between the lines without bi-pho's on.
Anon 1:37 pm
Just like Matt McLaughlin working for his father in Dimmick Township while he lives elsewhere!
9:02
I plan on attending the next one, asking appropriate questions as allowed, and if any member of the township board calls me or any attending citizen any other name besides Sir, Madame or their given name, I will be happy to discuss the matter with them in a more appropriate venue. I would encourage any other citizen of Peru (or any nearby city or village) who is an attorney to join me.
Creating a hostile environment for the public, or any form of physical or verbal intimidation, is not allowed by governing bodies at open forums.If such action is condoned by any member of law enforcement present at such open forums, that action cannot go unreported.
1:37 PM
Last I heard McLaughlin was a full time City of Peru Engineer with the fire department. Are you concerned about what he does on his days off?
if he is getting paid from dimmick township i am.
Peru Township takes very little of your tax dollars. Why the big fuss? Its too bad that the real money goes to the school districts and nobody ever is critical of the spending or transparency of those districts. Staff is hired, Capital plans are made and taxes keep rolling in. Can we afford or need a sports complex? Are our kids test scores improving? Are those early retirement bonuses working? Do we need a new school in every city? There is the real money. Beat up a few old political cronies on the township? Thats easy pickins. The bigger fish are laughing at those targets.
also works for mertel gravel
i totally agree with 3:14
3:14
They get a decent amount of criticism and scrutiny, much justly deserved ( I think the sport complex is nuts too). And if they inefficiently spread a few million around, at least it pays for construction jobs and teachers and administration who work pretty hard, no matter what you think of their end product.
The big fuss is that these township guys seem to think like you. What's the big deal if we don't help the poor and take ten grand here or ten grand there. There is bigger corruption and waste else where, leave us alone.
That does not wash. Maybe you missed the lesson where they said stealing is wrong even if everyone else seems to be doing it.
NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK
AT IT, WHOEVER PAYS TAXES PAYS PART OF THEIR SALARIES! So, THAT'S WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!
3:14 one by one but the arrogance, control, and spending direction of the township under Mr. Hocking appears to require immediate attention this election cycle especially since he was appointed to the position.
From what I have heard from several sources is that no vote was even taken by the township board at all to table the vote which was an agenda item. Word is Lisa Madigan's office has been notified and a committee would be a quorum and would require public notice and agenda...Hocking thinks he is above all citizens by the way Hocking doesnt even get a vote.
Who appointed Hocking and who did he receive recommendations from to be appointed? Every appointed position should be on the next immediate ballot for a open election so the people can elect who they want than have some appointed, unqualified favorite son of the people of power. That's scarey referring to Hocking as a favorite son. Yeaks!
Can someone please explain to me why there needs to be a separate committee to discuss their wages. An ntelligent/non sarcastic answer would be nice.
10:21PM
Perhaps just a cop out, when they found visitors attending the meeting. What a joke that decision was!
10:21
Perhaps they believed that a non quorum committee that could only discuss the matter, make recommendations and take no action could have a closed meeting not governed by the Open Meetings Act. They might then present the committee findings to the board at the next meeting and vote quickly without discussion. I believe the actions clearly show a desire to avoid public scrutiny or participation.
maybe we need to ask the man of many hats or mr. i can get by with one plate?
When people get involved in their town and want to make it better, that is a great thing. However, when they get involved to cause conflict and do nothing but blab about it, thats another. Since Kristy, Lois and some others have so much to say about many situations, I fully expect to see their names appear to fill positions either with the township or city. If you can talk the talk, then walk the walk. People who are miserable usually arent happy until they make other people miserable.
9:51
You are just stating the standard "Papacy" argument about citizen involvement. It goes as follows. We are infallible and consider questioning as causing conflict. Go with the herd, be still. Any complaining is not beneficial, pick up a shovel and help us bury the place in manure, if you want to help.
Same thing as the people who say if you don't support the war you are not supporting the troops.
Any objective person would see beyond the individual issues these citizens bring up to a pattern of "Papacy" style government. They need not run for office to point out the issues. Saying "let's see you do it better" should be reserved for the prom committee or local bake sale, not running a city. The conflict you refer to always happen when someone stands up and says something is wrong. You take job, you take the heat.
I actually consider myself relatively a happy person. I enjoy reading this blog to find out what's happening in town. Can't get answers from City Hall and don't want to sit in meetings and be glared at "because I'm rocking the boat." And yes, I believe much of it is true on this blog. I'm not miserable. Next theory 9:51?
Can anyone give an update on the committee meeting? Date,time and location?
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