New Chicago decides to have town manager

One week after the unexplained firing of a deputy clerk, who oversaw the water department, the New Chicago Town Council has voted to hire a town manager.

In a 4-1 vote April 16, the town council voted to establish a town manager position. The town manager will oversee all the town’s services in an effort to increase transparency and efficiency.

Public comment wasn’t allowed at the special meeting and one man angrily left after his attempt to speak was rejected.

Council president Sharon Szwedo said the town needs someone to fill the void left by Sue Pelfrey’s firing April 8 by Clerk-Treasurer Lori Collmar.

“The town can’t jeopardize that department,” said Szwedo. “Everybody doesn’t understand all the aspects of it. This way it will cover all departments and not just one,” she of the new position.

Council member Pam Richard voted against establishing the new position. “I thought that was the job of the town council and the clerk-treasurer,” she said of the town manager’s duties.

Szwedo said other towns and cities with managers run smoothly.

Town attorney Lloyd Mullen read the ordinance establishing the town manager job that included several duties including serving as a liaison between citizens and the town council.

The council told Collmar to advertise for the position that will pay $40,000 annually and include five weeks of vacation.

After the meeting, Collmar declined to talk about Pelfrey’s firing. She referred questions to Merrillville attorney Carrie Castro.

Mullen said he’s still puzzled about what triggered Pelfrey’s termination. Pelfrey, a former town council member, said Collmar didn’t give her a reason, either.

Pelfrey, who just won election to the Hobart Township board, said Collmar told her that her services were no longer needed.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.