Oak Lawn employees attending conferences and training will no longer receive a $150 per diem.
Instead, they will have to submit receipts for reimbursement of legitimate expenses.
The new policy is part of an effort by Village President David Heilmann and trustees to control expenses while examining where Oak Lawn is spending its money.
The board last week unanimously approved dropping the per diem and imposed limitations on conference travel. Employees already booked for conferences will be allowed to attend but without the benefit of the $150 a day for expenses.
Heilmann said the new policy was not meant to interfere with employee training and education. The limitations will be in place while village officials examine conference and travel expenditures.
The current budget included $140,000 for conferences and travel, a substantial increase over the previous year. Heilmann, who was elected village president in April, said that amount is excessive at a time when the village has been adopting deficit budgets.
The board also agreed to halt the practice of giving promotions and significant raises to employees who are nearing retirement. Such salary increases boost an employee’s pension benefits and have cost the village thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, over the years, Heilmann said.
In addition, the board approved a new policy that prohibits the payment of benefits to an employee on a leave of absence. In some cases, such as military leave, benefits will still be paid.
The village also plans to hire a new insurance broker. Heilmann said the firm Oak Lawn has used for the last 20 years charges excessive commissions. Bids have been sought from brokers, and the village will save at least $100,000 annually, he said.
Heilmann and other trustees said the expenditures for travel, insurance commissions and questionable raises and benefits had cost taxpayers millions over the past 10 years.
They blamed former Village Manager Joe Faber, who left the village just before the new board took office in May.
Trustee Tom Phelan described Faber’s actions as “malfeasance” and moved to stop severance payments to Faber, a matter that will be discussed at the Oct. 11 board meeting.