Clarendon Hills Voters Face Choice on Village Clerk’s Future

On Nov. 3, Clarendon Hills residents will cast a yes‑or‑no vote on a question that could reshape a core piece of village government. The referendum asks whether the village clerk—currently an elected office—should be filled by the mayor, with the board’s approval, instead of by the voters.

The idea isn’t brand‑new. Voters heard a similar proposal in 2022 and turned it down by a razor‑thin margin—49 % in favor, 51 % opposed. This time, supporters hope a changed political landscape and the upcoming retirement of the incumbent clerk will tip the scales.

Village Manager Paul Dalen says Clerk Lynn Dragisic has announced she won’t run for another term when her current stint ends in May 2027. “If the referendum passes, future vacancies would be filled by appointment by the village president, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees,” Dalen explained.

According to Dalen, the clerk’s duties could be absorbed by existing staff. The assistant village manager, Mera Johnson, notes that the clerk’s primary function is to keep official records, minutes and roll‑calls. She adds that, in practice, the former clerk Dawn Tandle spent about ten hours a week in Village Hall and earned a salary north of $15,000.

When Tandle stepped down in 2023, many of her responsibilities shifted to executive assistant Vicki Pries, who received a modest $2,500 raise to cover the extra workload. Dragisic’s compensation, by contrast, sits at roughly $5,000, and she now handles board minutes and serves as secretary for the Fire Pension Board.

Johnson believes merging the clerk’s tasks into her own role could save the village money. “I’m already at the meetings and I’m a salaried employee, so it should result in some savings for the village,” she said, adding that finding new clerks has become harder as residents juggle busy lives.

It’s worth noting that the clerk currently has no dedicated office space in Village Hall and does not vote on board measures—functions that would remain unchanged even if the position became appointed.

The outcome of the November vote will determine whether Clarendon Hills moves toward a more centralized appointment system or keeps the clerk’s seat in the hands of its electorate.