Mayor Austin Bonta wants Portage to join the ranks of other cities its size in getting a full-time city attorney.

With a population estimated at 38,882, Portage is the third-largest city in Northwest Indiana, behind Hammond and Gary.

Bonta even has someone in mind for the job and introduced him at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Dan Bartnicki, of Portage, is executive assistant to the general counsel at the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.

Bartnicki said he is willing to take the $50,000 pay cut to leave his federal job and work for the city. His salary would be $148,000, with benefits bringing the total compensation package to about $212,000.

Currently, the city uses private attorneys working under contract. So far, that has worked out. However, a full-time city attorney would be avail

See Full Page