Weston board votes to remove trustee stipends for next elected cycle

The Village of Weston Board of Trustees voted unanimously during a special meeting on 2025-09-09 to remove meeting stipends going forward for the 2026–28 term. Trustees said the change will simplify payroll processing and that current trustees may voluntarily decline the stipend for the remainder of the current cycle.

Trustees debated the stipend and its administration. Public commenter Grace raised stipend amounts during public comments, and trustees clarified that the stipend structure includes an annual amount and a $50 per‑meeting stipend for some additional committee meetings. Board discussion noted the base annual compensation amount for trustees is codified in village ordinance and that removing the stipends for future terms will require an ordinance update before it takes legal effect for the next election cycle.

Trustee Cornyn moved to alter president/trustee compensation and remove stipends following the 2025–27 term; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Trustees discussed logistics: staff said if the board sets the stipend to zero for the next term, the personnel handbook and municipal code would be updated and no immediate payroll change would be required for trustees seated in the ongoing term unless they choose not to accept the stipend.

Board members who spoke characterized the change as administrative; several said they do not serve for the money. The board asked staff to return ordinance language if needed to codify the change and to clarify the timing so prospective candidates understand compensation before filings for the next election.

Next steps: staff will prepare ordinance language to reflect the revised stipends and return it for formal code amendment and board approval prior to candidate filing deadlines for the 2026 election cycle.