The role of DeKalb City Clerk might change, based on the outcome of a referendum to be held in November.

The position is an elected official, but the referendum will decide if the position will change to be appointed by the city manager, according to a ordinance decided at the April 9 DeKalb City Council meeting.

The referendum will not be the first time this idea has been proposed to local residents. A similar vote was conducted in 2006, in which the mayor would have appointed the city clerk. According to a Nov. 2006 Northern Star article, the referendum failed, receiving only 37 percent of the vote.

“There’s no reason for it to be elected, and unfortunately, there was no good education or clarification before the vote,” said 6th Ward Alderman David Baker of the 2006 vote. “We could save $100,000 a year if the position was appointed instead of elected.”

The referendum will give the selection of the clerk to the city manager’s office, with consent of the city council. City Manager Mark Biernacki said such a situation would allow for more qualified candidates with oversight from city hall.

“If the position is appointed, it assures the skills and abilities required of the office are in place,” Biernacki said.

DeKalb Mayor Kris Povlsen also supports the idea, saying the position is not a policy-making job, but is a day-to-day operations position.

“When it’s a matter of policy makers, they should be elected,” Povlsen said. “This is a technical job, however, and they need specific skill sets and to have oversight from city hall.”

Seventh Ward Alderwoman Monica O’Leary said the position should stay as an elected job.

“I’d like the clerk to stay an elected position,” O’Leary said. “I feel like the motivation of the referendum is to have oversight of the clerk by the city manager, and I don’t agree with that.”

After a city council vote Monday, the position of city clerk will become a part-time job with a yearly salary of $5,000, should the referendum fail.

Biernacki said if the referendum passes, the clerk’s salary will be decided through city ordinances and decisions.

Povlsen said the recent resignation of former city clerk Steve Kapitan was a major factor in this referendum.

“We put this to vote four years ago,” Povlsen said. “It’s been on the mind of city council since then. The resignation of Kapitan brought this issue back into the spotlight.”

Biernacki also said such a referendum is a result of Kapitan’s departure, and it is an issue that should be addressed.

“The resignation prompted this question to be put in front of the voters,” Biernacki said.

Povlsen said the question should be put in perspective.

“School board members should be elected because they make policy,” Povlsen said. “But would you want your school principal to be elected? I know I wouldn’t.”