The Homewood village board approved a $10,000 salary bonus for Village Manager Jim Marino at its Tuesday meeting.
The Homewood village board approved a $10,000 salary bonus for Village Manager Jim Marino at its Tuesday meeting.
“I could say it’s a privilege to work for this (village). I’ve been here a long time and I’ve seen a lot of things,” Marino said. “I think we’ve got a great group of leaders that gives direction and I want to thank the staff, too. It’s a great staff and a great group of leaders and it makes my job easier.”
In 2016, Marino was paid $136,346.50, according to the Better Government Association’s payroll database. He’s the highest-paid village employee.
Marino, appointed village manager by Mayor Richard Hofeld in July 2012, served as assistant village manager for 13 years before that.
“For quite some time we’d been operating without an assistant village manager. We had to operate without a community development director, economic development director; no salaries were paid,” Hofeld said. “Mr. Marino stepped into those roles in an excellent fashion.”
Hofeld said the merit-based bonus is a percentage of his current salary and “well within reason and well within norms that are paid in other communities.”
The board approved the bonus 5-0, with Trustee Karen Washington absent. Some offered words of support for Marino’s work.
“I think we’re truly blessed to have Jim working for us,” Trustee Barbara Dawkins said. “From the time that I’ve served on this board from when you were an assistant village manager until now, you’ve been working tirelessly for this village. You’ve done an outstanding job. Ten thousand dollars is really nothing compared to what you’ve contributed to this village so I happily vote for that.”
Trustee Larry Burnson echoed Dawkins’ words.
“There’s nobody better that’s sat in that seat and it’s well-deserved,” Burnson said.
Homewood has been without an assistant village manager since January, when Michael Marzal resigned.