Trotwood council rejects compensation board pay recommendation and asks board to reconvene

The Trotwood City Council on a special meeting rejected a motion to schedule a May 5 public hearing and to have the law director draft an ordinance accepting the compensation board—s April 7 pay recommendations, then approved a separate motion to reject the compensation board—s report and request that the board reconvene and submit a revised report.

The council—s action came after extended discussion about staggered terms and a state law prohibition on interim pay increases, which council members said results in members starting new terms receiving raises at different times. Council members also discussed the 30-day window for accepting or rejecting the compensation board—s report and whether reconvening would meet statutory timing requirements.

Why it matters: The compensation board—s recommendations would change elected officials— pay starting at the beginning of the next terms; council members questioned whether staggered term start dates would create unequal pay for members doing the same work. By rejecting the report and asking the compensation board to reconvene, council created a path for the board to review the rationale and return with a revised recommendation before…