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Lennox council approves monthly stipends for mayor and council members
Summary
After extensive debate about recruitment and workload, the council approved a shift from per-meeting pay to monthly stipends (mayor $332/month; council $223.11/month), keeping total budget neutral for the remainder of the year.
The Lennox City Council voted to change the structure of elected-official pay from attendance-based payments to monthly stipends, inserting new stipend amounts into the wage schedule.
Council members engaged in a lengthy discussion about whether compensation should reflect attendance or the broader workload of modern local governance. "We want good people to continue to say yes to public service," the Chair said while urging a compensation philosophy that is "fair, transparent, and sustainable." Several council members said money was not the main motivation for service but that predictable monthly pay is easier to administer and better reflects committee work outside regular meetings.
Finance staff provided the budget numbers for a conversion that does not change the current annual payout: $332 per month for the mayor and $223.11 per month for council members, equating to a budgeted annual total of roughly $19,014. The council agreed to insert the final numbers and an additional council name for signature and approved resolution 2026-07-13-03 as amended by voice vote.
Supporters said the stipends simplify administration and avoid contentious definitions of "special meetings;" some members asked for the item to be revisited during the next budget cycle.
The resolution passed by voice vote and staff said the amended document will be prepared for signatures.
