Treasurer suggests cutting aldermen

One month after the Vandalia City Council changed the status of the city treasurer, saying it was a way to save money, the current treasurer made her own recommendation - cut the number of aldermen in half.

At the end of Monday's council meeting, Marjorie Blythe said she learned this weekend that Charleston, a much larger town with a university, has only four aldermen.

In changing the treasurer position from elected to appointed, the council reduced the salary for that post from a little more than $14,000 to $4,000.

Blythe said reducing the number of aldermen from eight to four would save the city $18,000 annually.

Her recommendation drew no response.

For the full story, see this week's issue of The Leader-Union.