Split between the economic impact and the city’s savings, Mayor Penny Lyons had to break two ties at Thursday night’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
In the end, Lyon voted to drop insurance coverage and approve a pay raise.
An ordinance that would drop health and dental insurance coverage for elected officials and another that would approve a pay raise for the mayor and board members had the board evenly divided.
The Board of Aldermen and Lyons discussed the proposed changes at a roundtable special meeting held last month.
Absent from that meeting was Board President Steve Kahrs.
Thursday night, Kahrs said he was begging the board to reconsider the ordinance because of the potential tough economic times the city could be seeing in the future.
He had no problem eliminating the insurance coverage, which would save the city about $12,000 per year per elected official for a full family plan.
However, he said it was tough to consider a pay raise when there could be potentially tough decisions to make in the city’s future budgets.
Aldermen David Gasper and Lois Farmer agreed.
Aldermen Kevin Rucker noted that the overall compensation package was being reduced for the elected officials, regardless of how much the officials are going to be paid. Aldermen John Olivarri and Ron Schmidt agreed with Rucker and voted in favor of it.
Currently, the mayor is paid $3,500 per year and $50 per meeting and aldermen are paid $2,000 per year and $50 per meeting.
The ordinance will raise salaries to $5,000 per year and $100 per meeting for the mayor while aldermen would receive $2,400 per year and $75 per meeting.
None of the changes will take place until after the next cycle of elections for each position. Three board seats will be filled next April, the other three seats and the mayor’s office will be up for election in April 2010.
Lyons had to break the tie vote for both the first and second readings of the ordinance.
Contact this reporter at deannaw
@lakesunleader.com