By HOI ABC

NORMAL – Outdoor dining will continue in Normal at least until the end of the year following town council action Monday night.

Council members also agreed to give City Manager Pam Reece a pay raise, although one of the elected officials voted against the pay hike.

The council voted unanimously to grant Reece authority to establish outdoor dining areas in Uptown Normal and make rules for it to continue in other parts of town.

The city manager said she’s looking at additional outdoor seating in Uptown beyond what restaurants have provided during the pandemic.

Council member Karyn Smith said continuation of outdoor dining after emergency pandemic orders are lifted accommodates people who aren’t comfortable yet gathering indoors.

“There were three letters in my inbox from people endorsing this, finding it as a delightful addition to the ambiance of our street life,” said Smith.

Council member Kathleen Lorenz indicated she would like outdoor dining to be a permanent feature on Normal restaurant scene.

“Having spent a lot of time on picnic tables, it’s just the overwhelming joy the people have,” said Lorenz.

Council approves city manager’s raise

The council voted 5-1 to raise City Manager Reece’s annual salary to $201,000, from her initial salary of $190,550.

The pay hike covers a two-year period, and the action had been delayed because of pandemic-related issues.

Council member Stan Nord cast the only no vote, having accused Reece of ethics violations. However, Reece has the support of the mayor and the rest of the council.

Nord also asked that minutes be made public from Reece’s performance review, which the council held during a closed door executive session.

“There’s no reason to keep it out of the public’s view,” said Nord.

Nord was told the minutes won’t be ready until just before the council’s July 6 meeting. It’s up to the council whether to release those minutes.