Too much time on the clock

Too much time on the clock
Editorial

Belleville News-Democrat - July 2, 2008


A 96-hour work week is something that would make most bosses stop and take notice, but not Cahokia Mayor Frank Bergman. He said he never knew that two village workers were routinely getting paid for all those hours until a reporter pointed it out to him.

There are two possibilities, neither of which is good for Cahokia. Either Bergman is out of touch with what goes on at Village Hall, or he's not being truthful with the public. Either way, we fear the taxpayers are being fleeced.

Employee Charles Robinson already earns $39,500 as a code enforcement officer and James Allen earns $37,000 as a ranger at the village's recreation park and swimming pool. In addition, they are being paid $10 an hour, supposedly to guard the old Parks College.

But one current and one former trustee doubt the employees are guarding that property. When our reporters went there on several occasions, they couldn't locate any guards. Are they actually working those extra hours?

If they are, 96 hours is more than any person reasonably should work. When do they even sleep, for goodness sake? And is this a legal pay arrangement? Most people who work more than 40 hours a week are entitled to time and a half their regular pay.

Bergman's solution was to cut their hours from 96 to a maximum of 80. But that's only slightly less outrageous than 96 hours.

Former Trustee Ken Spisak said he has been told the workers are being paid to be Bergman's bodyguards. The mayor denies it, but that might explain why the mayor initially sounded clueless, and why he's OK with all those hours.