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St. John Council hires new town manager but disagrees on salary

Newly-appointed St. John Town Manager Joseph Wiszowaty (third from right) is pictured with his family and members of the town council a special council meeting on March 3.
Town of St. John, Indiana Facebook page
Newly-appointed St. John Town Manager Joseph Wiszowaty (third from right) is pictured with his family and members of the town council a special council meeting on March 3.

St. John has a new town manager. Joseph Wiszowaty was appointed to the position during a special town council meeting Thursday. The contract approved by the council sets his annual salary at $108,000, the same as former Town Manager Chris Salatas.

But Council Member Wayne Pondinas didn't feel a new employee should be hired in at full scale and wanted his salary to be $100,000 even. "I vote to have him in. I look forward to working with him. I want to take him through the town, show him our water, our sewer. Whatever you'll need, you'll have my support. But on the wage part, I didn't agree with that, and it's nothing against you," Pondinas told Wiszowaty.

Council President Gerald Swets felt Wiszowaty deserved the full pay, due to his additional experience. Wiszowaty previously worked for Sauk Village and Calumet City.

He starts as St. John town manager on Monday.