Ethics & Oversight pay-structure proposal tied to attendance fails after debate

A proposed pay structure from the Ethics & Oversight Committee that would tie portions of commissioner pay to attendance failed after discussion and a roll-call vote.

The committee’s proposal — presented during the meeting — outlined a guaranteed base pay of 12.5% for commissioners, plus 43.75% for attending steering committees and 43.75% for attending the evening full-court meeting. The committee framed this measure as a way to address chronic attendance issues and to make pay contingent on presence.

Commissioners questioned whether the proposal would fairly address the problem. One commissioner noted practical issues: steering committees sometimes begin at times that make attendance difficult for members with jobs. The clerk performed a roll-call vote; after a recorded change of a vote during tallying, the clerk stated, “I have 7 yes, 3 no, and 4 absent. Motion fails.”

Because the measure failed on the floor, no changes to commissioner pay were adopted and no immediate implementation tasks were assigned.