Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel And Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council holds public hearings on elected and appointed salaries; discusses crossings, planner/compliance role
Summary
Two public hearings covered ordinances setting salaries for elected officials (no raises in the proposed ordinance) and appointed staff (a dollar‑based increase approximating $2,080 for full‑time), and council debated removing a budget paragraph about school crossing guards and creating a combined compliance officer/city planner position funded from stormwater.
Martinsville — The Martinsville Common Council held two public hearings Nov. 10 on proposed ordinances to set 2026 salaries for elected officials and certain appointed staff.
Legal counsel explained the ordinance setting elected officials’ pay lists the mayor, clerk-treasurer, council and city court judge and uses the same dollar amounts as 2025; it does not include raises for elected officials. During the hearing a council member asked about the city court judge’s pay; a councilor said Judge Terrell’s annual salary appears as $47,750 in the ordinance.
The companion ordinance for appointed officials proposes pay increases for many employees. Council members and staff discussed the structure of the increase: one official said it “is not really a percentage. It equates to an employee working 40 hours a week. It could equate to a dollar an hour. It’s right at $2,080.” Staff said a few appointed employees (named in the discussion) would not receive the raise in order to help balance the budget.
On personnel lines in the budget, members questioned dual listings for two 'working foreman' positions and staff clarified there are two foremen — one at Mulberry Street and one at the wastewater treatment plant — and that the wastewater foreman is required to be a certified plant operator.
Councilors also discussed a budget paragraph that referenced city-paid school crossing guards. Staff said the city historically paid long-serving crossing guards but the school district now covers those positions; the council directed removal of that paragraph from page 10 to reflect current practice.
Separately, the meeting included discussion of recruiting a compliance officer or combining that role with a city planner to manage expanding regulatory requirements, with a councilor noting stormwater compliance has grown and that stormwater income is approximately $40,000 a month.
No final votes on either ordinance were taken on Nov. 10; both items remain at first reading and will return for further consideration.
