Scaled-down city raises move on to next level

By Jason Nevel
Herald Staff Writer

July 01, 2009 11:14 am

— CLINTON — The Clinton Committee of the Whole approved a scaled-down version of proposed salary increases for the mayor and council members 4-3 Tuesday.
The measure, which still needs approval from the City Council, calls for raising the mayor’s salary from $7,000 to $15,000 and council members salaries would be boosted to $6,000 from $3,000.
“I think this would be a reasonable amount,” said At-large councilwoman Bette Oakley.
Two weeks ago, a citizen’s advocacy group suggested tripling the mayor’s salary and doubling council members salaries. A three-member panel advanced that proposal to the Committee of the Whole, but Tuesday, some council members said that was too high and backed the scaled-back version.
Supporters of the raise, which would not kick in for some council members until the November elections, said a salary boost was long overdue because it hadn’t been increased in 19 years and more qualified candidates would run for office if the wages were higher.
Third ward councilman Darrell Smith, who supported the raise originally but voted “no” Tuesday, said he did not see how a raise would attract better candidates.
“I know that everyone on this council would say I didn’t run for the money,” Smith said.
Joining Oakley in voting “yes” were Ron Mallicoat, at-large councilman; Paul Gassman, fourth ward and Mark Vulich, at-large.
In other action, a proposal to abolish residents’ ability to ask the city to redo their street, at a cost to individual property owners along the street was voted down 4-3 by the council. The street assessment policy would have the city assess each property’s value, and then residents would pay for the reconstructed road based on that evaluation.
Because the measure was rejected, both South 18th Street and Prospect Avenue could still be specially assessed by the city if enough property owners approve.
In final action, the council approved a $2,500 grant for the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center at Rock Creek Park and accepted a bid from Portzen Construction for $389,789 for road repairs.