Normal will offer buyouts to some employees

Sept. 19--NORMAL -- The clock is ticking for 18 town of Normal employees.

Eligible Normal workers have until mid-October to decide if they'll take an early retirement incentive intended to help the town fight a budget shortfall after the Normal City Council approved the program Monday.

Eligible employees are in pay grades 30 to 40 -- the lowest at the town, including receptionists, custodians, educators and librarians who make less than $57,000 annually; have 15 years of service as of Dec. 31, 2018; are at least 55 years old on that date; and are eligible to receive a state pension.

Members of the town's police and fire unions aren't eligible.

The incentive includes a year of single health insurance or six months for a couple, as well as a lump sum payment of $500 per year of service up to $12,500 if the employee retires by March 31, or $250 per year up to $6,250 if the employee retires by Dec. 31, 2018.

The council did not discuss the program before voting on it despite questions about it from two members of the public who commented Monday night.

"I do not want to see any employees early retired or terminated in any way," said Ron Ulmer, a Normal resident and frequent critic of town spending. "Will this early retirement increase the town's future pension liability?"

City Manager Mark Peterson said after the meeting the program will not affect the town's pension costs.

Ulmer and Marc Tiritilli also questioned the council's executive session for property acquisition on Monday's agenda. Both said the town should stop considering paying to use the Fairview Building, which the county owns and might demolish, and buying property for the future "Uptown South" district in light of the budget shortfall.

Peterson said he can't comment on the subject of an executive session, but the town is unlikely to pursue the Fairview Building, which is a now-vacant property next to McLean County Nursing Home, or to buy property for the expansion of uptown redevelopment south of the railroad tracks before April 1 even though the town has budgeted money for it. No decision has been made on either project.

Town officials hope 10 employees will take the incentive, freeing their positions for lower-paid employees or elimination. Normal faces a budget deficit of more than $1.2 million for its next fiscal year, which starts April 1.

In other business, the council approved:

--Eliminating a railroad crossing on Maple Hill Road. Peterson said the road is already closed there, so traffic will not be affected. The Illinois Commerce Commission and Norfolk Southern Railroad will pay the town a combined $35,000 for vacating the crossing, and the town will spend $10,000 on the project.

--Appointing Dave Shields to Normal Planning Commission to succeed Arlene Hosea, who resigned after she was elected to the Normal Township Board.

Shields has served as campaign manager for Mayor Chris Koos, who chooses planning commission candidates for the council to appoint.

Follow Derek Beigh on Twitter: @pg_beigh

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