With one dissenting vote, Pea Ridge City Council members voted to set the base salary for mayor's office for the coming term at $25,000.
Council member Nadine Telgemeier cast the nay vote.
"This is setting the salary to begin in January of next year," Mayor Jackie Crabtree explained to the Council.
"It's based on Ordinance 513 which states that on or before the first meeting in June or July in the year which the term of the mayor expires" council must set the salary for the position, he explained.
"That's why this is on the agenda. It's not really fixing Jackie's salary. It's fixing the salary for the office. It can be re-fixed in January. It's because of the election. This is not giving Jackie a raise," Howard Slinkard, city attorney, explained.
According to the municipal code 2.24.05: "The City Council shall, on or before its first regularly scheduled meting in June in the year in which the term of the office of Mayor expires, re-fix the compensation for the office of Mayor for the succeeding term of the office. (Ord. No. 513, Sec. 1)"
"This is just setting a base salary," Bob Cottingham, council member, said. "Then we can readjust."
"You can raise it, but you can't lower it," Slinkard said.
The mayor's salary is currently $45,000, according to City Clerk Sandy Button, who said the salary was $25,700 when the position first became a full-time position. The mayor said he earned $250 a month when it was a part-time position. Crabtree has been in office 20 years.
Telgemeier said the salary is set before anyone has filed to seek the office.
Cottingham said it's a base salary that can be raised depending on the office holder's experience.
The current ordinance states the mayor's position is full time.
"It wasn't fair to the position to have someone with no experience come in and start with the same salary as someone with years of experience," Cottingham said.
"I wouldn't go apply for a job where I know I have a lot of experience but the salary is below ... so you're going to turn away people who have a lot of experience. I think $25,000 is too low," Telgemeier said.
"Twenty-five is fair. Then you can change it," Button said.
"This is not a career position; this is a servant position," Cottingham said. "It's serving the community. That's why you and I and all are here."
"I'm fine with $25,000 starting," Ray Easley, council member, said.
In other business, Council members:
• Approved the minutes of the June 17 meeting with changes;
• Appointed Laura Baker to the Pea Ridge Library Board;
• Accepted the one bid received for restriping Lee Town Road and Weston Street for a total of $15,148;
• Heard and discussed a revision to city burn regulations and agreed to discuss it again;
• Discussed the city's door-to-door regulations and asked the city attorney to make revisions in the ordinance; and
• Approved city officials getting fleet insurance through the Arkansas Municipal League.
General News on 07/23/2014