Compensation commission recommends modest, staggered raises for Wicomico County council

The Wicomico County Compensation and Allowance Commission voted on Oct. 8, 2025, to recommend that the county council increase base pay for council members by $1,500 per year for four years, a staggered boost the commission said mirrors a recent recommendation it made for the county executive.

The recommendation follows a two-hour discussion that included three Wicomico County Council members describing their time commitments and arguing they do not run for office for pay. Commission member Stefan Feliciano spoke on the record to oppose the commission's earlier decision on the county executive's salary, and the commission read a written legal opinion from County Attorney Paul Wilbur about the commission—s authority.

Why it matters: the commission can recommend specific dollar amounts, but any change in elected officials— compensation must be enacted by the County Council. The commission—s recommendation will go to the full council for final action; the county attorney—s written opinion and comments from other meeting participants clarified legal limits and practical implications of any change.

Most important facts: commission members said the panel previously recommended raising the county executive—s salary by $2,000 per year for four years, moving the executive from the current $107,000 to $115,000. Feliciano moved to have his formal opposition to that executive increase entered into the September 24 minutes and explained he favors an immediate adjustment to $120,000 rather than incremental raises. Robert Taylor cited Article III, Section 35 of the Maryland Constitution as the controlling law that prevents a salary change during an officer—s term, and urged caution; the commission—s attorney opinion, read into the record by staff member Laura Hurley, said the charter permits the commission to recommend specific amounts (not formulas) and reminded the commission that any increase must be adopted by legislative bill with a favorable vote of a majority plus one of the County Council.

Council members who attended described the day-to-day workload for council service. John Cannon, president of the Wicomico County Council, summarized a typical week of meetings, constituent calls and events and estimated roughly 25 hours per week doing council business. Joe Holloway (District 5) and Vice President Jeff Merritt described similar mixes of constituent service, committee work and special-project duties. Merritt said he did not run for office because of the pay, and Cannon and Holloway emphasized constituent services and financial oversight as primary duties.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend a $1,500-per-year increase for each council member over four years (totaling $6,000 over the four-year span for the base pay). The motion passed; the chair announced that six commissioners voted in favor and the commission will forward the recommendation to the County Council. The recommendation includes the base-council pay only; commission staff provided comparative salary and budget materials for other Maryland counties and preliminary sheriff salary information for a future meeting.

Discussion versus decision: commissioners debated policy and fairness, including whether higher pay would attract a broader candidate pool or simply reward incumbents who already put in substantial time. The commission—s formal decisions were to: (1) enter Commissioner Feliciano—s opposition to the previous county executive recommendation into the minutes, (2) proceed with the previously drafted recommendation on the county executive (a $2,000-per-year, four-year staggered increase), and (3) recommend the council pay increase described above. None of those salary changes become binding until the County Council takes formal legislative action.

Next steps: the commission scheduled follow-up agenda items on sheriff salaries and requested that Sheriff Jeff Lewis be available at a future meeting. The commission noted timeline constraints for submitting recommendations to the County Council.