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Council debates charter amendment to raise elected-official pay and add capped CPI increases; no vote taken
Summary
Council discussed a proposed charter amendment to increase council pay (proposed $1,000 → $1,500) and mayor pay ($1,250 → $2,000) with an annual CPI adjustment capped at 3%; members emphasized any pay change should take effect after an election and asked staff to return with ordinance language and implementation timing.
Council held an extended discussion about a proposed charter amendment that would change elected-official compensation and add an annual cost-of-living adjustment tied to the CPI (capped at 3 percent).
Council member David Kazinski and others reviewed that the current council salary levels had not been adjusted in roughly two decades. One council member proposed raising the monthly council stipend to $1,500 and the mayor’s pay to $2,000, with future annual CPI increases capped at 3 percent. Several members said they opposed the idea of the council voting to award itself a pay raise and emphasized that any charter change should be decided by voters and phased to become effective after the next election cycle.
Town legal and administrative staff (Keith and Emil) advised on technical questions about how CPI would be calculated and when an increase could be implemented for budgeting and payroll. Staff recommended tying the annual CPI calculation to an established index date and clarified budget timing so any future increases can be planned in the fiscal process. Council did not adopt an ordinance but directed staff to prepare draft charter language and an ordinance for two readings at a future meeting.
Next steps: Staff and legal will draft ordinance language reflecting council direction (including effectivity language and CPI index selection) for future public hearings and two readings required by the charter.
