Commission recommends changes to council and mayor salary rules, timing for mayoral salary vote

Commissioners reviewed and approved redline language that changes how council and mayor salaries are handled and clarifies procedures for vacancies and confirmations.

Presenter (staff) described a change to Article 3.07 tying the determination of city council members' salaries to an objective metric “set by the state of Ohio.” The presenter said that the change is intended to remove repeated self-decision by council on its own pay and rely on an external, standardized measure.

On the mayor's salary, the commission discussed a new timetable requiring council to consider mayoral pay at one of council's two regular October meetings in election years so the figure can be included in the budget process. Amanda (staff member) explained the timing: "In order for me to have some concept of what the mayor is gonna make to include it in the budget, I need it a little earlier. Typically, city council gets the budget at the October, the November, for the next fiscal year." Commissioners and staff also discussed ethics guidance and case law; staff reported advice from the law department and said the version presented incorporated a recent legal review.

The charter language discussed would allow council to vote on the mayor's salary for the current term if voters adopt the charter amendment; going forward, council would vote on the pre-election, preterm schedule. Commissioners debated semantics and timing but did not remove the provision. The commission approved the overall redline package by roll call; that approval advances these salary provisions to City Council, which may accept, change, or place the provisions on the ballot.