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Residents Criticize Proposed Mayor and Commissioner Pay Increases as Commission Keeps Item on Consent Agenda
Summary
Residents pressed the Royal Oak City Commission to reject a large pay increase for the mayor and commissioners, calling the agenda language opaque and urging the matter be delayed for public review. The consent agenda (minus three pulled items) was approved without removing the compensation report.
Several Royal Oak residents used the public-comment period at Monday’s City Commission meeting to object to a compensation report on the agenda that, according to speakers, would dramatically raise pay for the mayor and commissioners.
Trish Oliver told the commission the item (listed in the packet as the Local Officers’ Compensation Commission resolution and determination) should be described plainly on the agenda. “Why not state the agenda item more clearly so that everyone easily can see what is under consideration, such as pay increase for mayor and commissioners?” Oliver said. She asserted the proposal would raise the mayor’s annual pay from $1,000 to $16,000 and each commissioner’s pay from $500 to $12,000 and asked whether such a change should be put to a public vote as required by the city charter.
Other residents voiced similar concerns about process and timing. Rick Kurlowski described the approach as “sneaking it through” on a consent agenda rather than amending the charter or holding an open discussion. Nancy Sumner said the city faces competing priorities — road repairs and other maintenance — and questioned approving substantial increases while infrastructure needs remain.
The commission removed three items (listed as L, P and Q) from the consent agenda for separate discussion. A motion to approve the remainder of the consent agenda (excluding those items) passed by voice vote, leaving the compensation packet item in the unpulled portion of the consent agenda.
The meeting record shows the commission approved the consent agenda with L, P and Q removed; the transcript does not record a separate roll-call result for the compensation report itself. Speakers asked the commission for clearer agenda language, disclosure of fringe benefits and a fuller explanation of comparisons used in the compensation study.
Next steps: Commissioners will consider the upcoming budget review and related public questions; speakers urged delaying any change to compensation until the community can review full financial context.
