Joliet's New $150,000 Director Of Cultural Affairs Justifies Her Hiring, Plus Adding More Staff In 2026

JOLIET, IL — Two weeks after traveling back to Chicago for a photo-op with Governor JB Pritzker and other public officials at Navy Pier, Joliet's new $150,000 director of cultural affairs and special events Ann Sylvester found herself facing questions at this week's Joliet City Council meeting. The questions from City Councilwoman Jan Quillman concerned Sylvester's newly created City Hall position as well as an additional position that city manager Beth Beatty included in the new 2026 city budget to provide Sylvester with a special events coordinator come 2026.

Last week, Joliet Patch reported that Mayor Terry D'Arcy's 2026 city budget called for filling 11 new positions and $919,662 in new salaries. One new position is the special events coordinator within the city manager's office, with a $90,000 starting salary.

In August, Sylvester was hired away from her long-time position at the City of Chicago to fill Joliet's new director of culture affairs and special events position, at a $150,000 starting salary.

As for the new special events coordinator, Beatty explained to Quillman at one of this week's meetings that, "we're just trying to professionalize and run these successful events so we can attract people to come to Joliet."

Quillman responded, "OK. I don't agree, but well, we just hired somebody to do all this and now all of a sudden."

Beatty: "We hired a director position because another director, which one we are talking about, here?" Beatty suddenly asked Quillman, who responded the events coordinator.

"Yes, we have an events coordinator, but she oversees everything and she's doing it all herself now. But, we don't have someone dedicated to it so we can process things professionally," Beatty explained. "These are just little things that come up in my last two years where it's very last second, how do we scramble to get everybody there that we need to get there to make sure something happens? It's one person that is in charge of permitting and programming and coordinating and like, we don't have a citywide events calendar right now. There's nowhere people can go and be like what's happening in Joliet this weekend?"

Quillman responded by asking more questions and wondering whether the city's director of media engagement and public relations should be doing those things.

"No," Beatty answered, "the communications director's job is to get information pushed out to the city, right? But we also need expertise about actually planning these professional events. And I know you're looking at Ann (Sylvester) like she's got to do everything."

Quillman did not like Beatty's answer.

"No, now, wait a minute," Quillman spoke up. "Let's not talk about this right now. OK? Because you're going down the wrong path with me on this, OK? So, anyway, I discussed this with Ann, and I was looking for things that were being done and at this point, I don't feel like we need another event person at this time. She was just hired so we've got to take a little ways to get the lay of the land and coordinate before you need another person on board."

Beatty stood her ground and did not back off her reasoning.

"I have 20 years of experience and the difficulties I've had the last couple of years have really shown a real need for that. And I respect your opinion. You're an at-large Council member. I do not take that personally at all whatsoever," Beatty told Quillman.

Later in the meeting, Sylvester spoke up, directing her remarks to Quillman.

"And thank you, Jan, for the questions," Sylvester began. "You know, I'm always happy to answer them. I was hired in this position in August because the mayor and city manager identified a need and I know I shared notes with you that arts and culture has a significant economic impact to the city of Joliet and in my role, my job is to make Joliet a great place to live, work and visit. 2026 is going to be a very exciting time for the city of Joliet.

"Not only do we have the opening of the City Square, we have Route 66 Centennial which Joliet is already owning that. We also have the 250th anniversary. In order to do that, you need the substantial staff to be able to not only execute it well, but also safely. Beth identified some difficult elements ... we've had with the current permitting system, which is why we specifically created that special events coordinator position.

"As director of cultural affairs and special events, I am responsible for overseeing all of the elements for arts and culture. The manager for special events, which has just been posted, it was a reposting, but we did slightly shift some of the responsibilities. That person will oversee the programming and operations of Bicentennial Park ... but also the responsibilities of City Square, which also has a special events coordinator to come in and really focus on, which I've honestly been hearing from the City Council since I got here. It's really that professional service and being able to have customer service and answering ... those are the three overall positions we're talking about here. Does that answer your question?," Sylvester asked.

"To a point," Quillman replied. "I feel like you just got here and now it seems like ugh, I have all this stuff to do, and I need somebody to help me. And you haven't been here that long and I'm just trying to figure out why not wait a little longer to see exactly what you need and a lot of these events, they take on their own, like Santa's Sendoff was all done."

Sylvester informed Quillman she has grand plans for Joliet's future.

"Yes, but we're hoping this actually creates new events and new things coming in and getting exposure for Joliet at a regional and national level (that) will attract more people here. So, yes, I have only been here four months. I do work fast and there's a lot to do. Not only like I said, do we want to be able to do it from a capacity standpoint, but that we're doing it safely for everyone that's attending."

Quillman thanked Sylvester for her responses.

"Well, that's what we needed to hear because you know, everything's been out there. I've been getting phone calls, so we need to get this out there clarified."

Beatty then spoke up, remarking, "We appreciate the opportunity to clarify because what's reflected in the press isn't always the truth."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

$150,000 Starting Pay For Joliet's New Director Of Cultural Affairs And Special Events

11 new positions, $919,662 in new salaries proposed in Mayor D'Arcy's 2026 Joliet city budget