East Central Reporter

During a review of records from the East Oakland/Morgan Multi-Township, it was discovered that the board established additional compensation for themselves. The resolution indicates that the Multi-Township Board Chairman/Supervisor is to be paid $500 annually, while board members and the clerk receive $100 annually. Additionally, the pay for Multi-Township Assessor Shirley Willison increased from $15,000 to $19,000.

The legality of compensating board members and the clerk has been questioned. "We ask, where in the law does it say Multi-Township Board members and the Clerk are to be compensated?" asked an unnamed source. No response has been received from the Chairman regarding this query.

According to Illinois law, a multi-township board's powers are limited to levying necessary taxes, determining and approving the assessor's budget, setting an assessor's salary, and setting compensation for temporarily appointed assessors due to physical incapacity. Compensation for board members or clerks is not mentioned within these duties.

Some argue that 60 ILCS 1/65-20(c) permits compensation for these offices if there is an election of Multi-Township Officers. However, no such election process currently exists in law. "If there was [an election], then they could set compensation not to exceed $25 per day," noted another source.

Concerns about adherence to legal requirements have also been raised regarding Ms. Boes and other township officials' alleged illegal storage of personal property in Township buildings.

It is anticipated that additional compensation might be set for supervisors and clerks in their respective townships covering multi-township positions following these revelations.

"Voters in East Oakland Township, you get what you vote for," remarked a commentator on local governance issues.