City Council Approves 12.6 Percent Raise for Administrator Vana

The Darien City Council unanimously approved a 12.6 percent raise for City Administrator Bryon Vana during Monday night’s meeting.

For fiscal year 2012, Vana will receive a salary of $144,677, up from his current salary of $128,544, according to the contract approved Monday. The contract also includes a 13 percent deferred compensation package, which is consistent with Vana's previous contract with the city.

The raise is roughly equivalent to a 3 percent increase each year from 2007, the most recent year Vana received a raise, according to a . 

The city council voted on the contract with little discussion. 

Prior to the vote, Ward 2 Alderman Tina Beilke said she did a survey of surrounding towns to determine how many have residency requirements for city administrators. 

The survey was conducted based on questions she’d received from Ward 2 residents, she said. Vana lives in Glen Ellyn.

Of the 12 towns she surveyed, four require city administrators to live in the city, Beilke said. Some of the 12 towns she surveyed include Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Woodridge and Downers Grove.

“It’s not a majority type of thing,” Beilke said. “Based on the experiences of how people want to move and get better compensation, sometimes that’s not in your community at all and you’d be better off serving in another community.”

Vana’s new contract is retroactive to May 1.