Council sets salary for new Municipal Judge

Whitefish City Council last week approved a salary for new Municipal Judge Bill Hileman.

Council Dec. 4 unanimously approved setting Hileman’s salary at $75,000 per year after he takes over the court on Jan. 1, 2018. City regulations set the salary range for the position at $60,000 to $80,811.80.

Hileman was elected to the position in the city election in November. He replaces Judge Brad Johnson who is retiring after 32 years.

Council met with Hileman in a work session prior to the regular meeting reviewing his resume and asking him a few questions.

Hileman declined to propose a salary figure to Council, noting he ran for the job, “not for the money.”

“I was surprised to find it a range and not an established amount,” he said of the judge’s salary. “I will abide by what the Council feels is fair.”

Council asked Hileman about his plans for the court. He said he will take some time to asses the needs of the court, but he also noted a few items.

“My first order of business is to restore the relationship between the Judge and Council as an amicable one,” he said.

Also, Hileman said he plans to look at using video conferencing for defendants to appear in court and using bench trials to deal with defendants who don’t appear in court. He said both items would look to create more efficiency in the court.

Councilor Frank Sweeney said the salary range is what Council has analyzed to be appropriate for the position.

“This position, absent any tenure, the salary should be $75,000 and that’s clearly where it belongs for what we expect of the judge,” Sweeney said.

During the work session, Hileman also explained that he will likely be taking over the duties of Municipal Judge earlier than Jan. 1 as Johnson has expressed a desire to hand over the court early. Hileman said he expects to work from mid-December through Dec. 31 for no pay until he is officially sworn into office.