Niles Liquor Commissioner Could Get $150-220 Per Hour

As Niles trustees held a special meeting Monday to set guidelines for hiring a liquor commissioner, Village Attorney Joseph Annunzio mentioned that he attended a party recently and several attorneys chatted him up.

He realized they were hoping to get work from the village of Niles as its new liquor commissioner.

However, after trustees discussed the pay for the job, such attorneys might not even want to buy a round of drinks.

Annunzio told trustees the going rate for a qualified attorney with municipal experience would range from $150 to $220 per hour. Then he added there would likely be only two to five hours' worth of work most months.

Earlier:

Trustees originally thought the financial outlay would be greater; Trustee Chris Hanusiak said at the last meeting that the deputy liquor commissioner earns about six figures, and asked whether the liquor commissioner would make more.

But Annunzio explained how the village reviews alleged violations of the liquor code. The deputy liquor commissioner reports violations, and the hearing officer (which is normally Annunzio, the village attorney) gives any liquor license holder under scrutiny due process rights. Then he writes up a draft opinion and submits it, with a copy of the transcript of the hearing, to the liquor commissioner, who renders a final decision on the matter.

"I’ve never been involved in a hearing longer than 45 minutes," Annunzio said, adding he has been doing this since 2006.

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With Trustee Joe LoVerde presiding, since Mayor Przybylo was required by law to recuse himself from the discussion, trustees decided they want the liquor commissioner to be a contractual position, for two years, instead of hiring the individual as a village employee. They also agreed they wanted to pay the individual on a per-hour basis rather than by a monthly retainer.

The decisions were made based on the discussion and consensus; no votes were taken.

Hanusiak urged the other trustees to set qualifications when they advertise the liquor commissioner position, which state law says must be filled by an attorney.

"We have minimum qualifications from the state. What qualifications do we want besides the one Trustee Alpogianis made?" Hanusiak asked. Alpogianis had earlier expessed a desire for the liquor commissioner to have some experience in the hospitality and/or restaurant industry.

Annunzio said he probably would not hire any attorney without a minimum of five years' experience, including experience in municipal government, and Hanusiak encouraged him to write that into the qualifications for the position.

LoVerde said Annunzio would write up a draft of an advertisement for the position, and the meeting adjourned. The board's next regular meeting is Tuesday, May 28.

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