Oak Harbor Salary Commission declines COLA, reviews bylaws and schedules Dec. 2 meeting

The Oak Harbor Salary Commission at its annual meeting reviewed proposed bylaw changes, agreed to solicit applications for two vacancies and unanimously voted not to consider a cost-of-living adjustment for the mayor and city council.

Commissioners also approved the meeting minutes and set a tentative follow-up meeting for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. at City Hall.

The commission’s review of a draft bylaw update focused on several procedural items: language clarifying remote attendance, rules for special meetings and work sessions, notice to the public, and provisions for commissioner removal. Commissioners said the draft uses standard edits for multiple advisory bodies and that struck text represents proposed removals while double underlines mark proposed additions.

Commissioners discussed a wording item in the draft that described a part-time position as 30 hours per week paid $1,200 per month. The transcript records a motion to amend the sentence that equated that amount to $10 per hour; the amendment changed the phrasing to say the amount was “not an unreasonably low or high amount.” The record does not show a formal roll-call for that specific wording change.

There were no public comments submitted for the meeting, staff said.

On actions, the commission approved the meeting minutes by voice vote. Later in the meeting, a motion to not consider a cost-of-living adjustment for the mayor and city council was made by Mary (commission member) and seconded by Jason (commission member); the commission approved that motion unanimously. Staff recapped that vote for the record.

The commission discussed membership timelines. The record shows staggered term expirations noted during the meeting (Jason and Tiffany through Dec. 31, 2025; Mary through a year-end date referenced in the record). Commissioners agreed to solicit applications to fill two vacancies and to schedule a tentative meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 11 a.m. at City Hall; the meeting is subject to cancellation.

The commission asked staff to circulate schedules and vacancy information by email and confirmed the commission meets annually under its bylaws, with the draft proposing the annual meeting be held in March going forward. The meeting concluded with the commission setting the Dec. 2 tentative meeting date and recording the earlier votes and direction to solicit applications.

The commission’s discussion included procedural clarifications rather than adoption of a final, comprehensive bylaw revision; the draft bylaws will return for any additional edits if members request changes.

Next steps recorded in the meeting transcript: staff will solicit applications for the two vacancies and circulate calendar and agenda materials for the Dec. 2 tentative meeting.