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Council approves first reading to set mayor salary at $90,000, councilor pay adjusted; debate continues over city administrator
Summary
On first reading council approved Ordinance 49-53 to change compensation for the mayor and council positions; councilors debated study of a possible city administrator and whether pay changes should wait.
Lewiston — The Lewiston City Council on Aug. 4 approved the first reading of Ordinance 49-53 to amend city code sections related to elected officials’ compensation, setting the mayor’s annual salary at $90,000, councilors’ pay at $720 per month and the council president’s pay at $800 per month.
The ordinance is a first reading; councilors may revisit or amend the ordinance in subsequent readings required by city code. Council President Clayberg moved the ordinance; Councilor Schroeder seconded the motion and the council voted in favor.
Council debate focused on whether the city should explore adding a city administrator position before raising elected-official pay. Councilor Spickelmeyer said he did not oppose study of a city administrator: “I’m not really, not sure I really support looking at a city administrator, but I would like us to take the time to officially look at it, see what it looks like, see what it would cost the city and if it would work.” Several councilors — including Klein, Forsman and Schroeder — said they preferred to keep the council and mayor pay at status quo while the city studies the administrator option or to delay larger changes until the next budget cycle.
Why it matters: The ordinance sets compensation for the next term of office and will apply to whoever holds the positions; state statute requires disclosure and local processes for setting council/ mayor compensation. Councilors said the debate is about the structure of city management, not individual incumbents.
Formal action: The first reading passed by council voice vote during the meeting. The ordinance will return for subsequent readings and final adoption per the city’s ordinance schedule.
Implementation note: Staff and councilors discussed how an added city administrator would be funded and whether a pay change for the mayor should be conditioned on hiring an administrator; council members noted budget timing and the need to include any administrator funding in the next fiscal budget if they choose that route.
Ending: The ordinance passed its first reading. Councilors asked staff to consider budget impacts and to return with additional information during the budget process and subsequent ordinance readings.
