KINGWOOD — When a new council takes office in three years, it could be paid more than current council, but still less than members of some city boards.
Council voted 4-1 Tuesday, with Recorder Bill Robertson casting the nay vote, to double salaries for the next council. State law prohibits council from voting itself a raise while in office.
The new salaries will be $3,500 per year for the mayor, $2,500 for the recorder and $1,500 for council members. That’s still less than members of some city boards. Members of the Water Board, for example, make $125 per meeting and its chair $200 per meeting. A second reading of the change to the governing ordinance is required before the salary change is finalized.
Councilman Dick Shaffer, who is 84 years old and has served on council about 10 years, said he hopes it encourages people to run for office. “They’re not going to spend all their time if you don’t give any compensation. We certainly need some new blood,” Shaffer said. “We need competition in these elections.”
Councilman Josh Fields pointed to a 2008 study by the West Virginia Municipal League which showed Class III cities, such as Kingwood, paid an average annual salary of $12,000 to mayors and $2,300 for council members.
Class III cities responding in that survey included Elkins, Keyser, Ripley and Westover. Other Preston County towns, including Masontown, Reedsville, Rowlesburg, Terra Alta and Tunnelton, fell into Class IV in the study. Eleven years after the study, based on 30 meetings per year, Kingwood’s mayor is paid $1,750, the recorder $1,250 and council members $750 each.
“It would make us more competitive with our neighboring communities … and perhaps entice some of the future leaders of our community to come out of the woodwork,” Fields said.
Robertson argued with years until the change goes into effect council could wait, to see if anything changes. And, he said, city employees recently received a 3% raise.
“A boy’s making $11 an hour on the back of the garbage truck … to me, I would much rather see my money go to those fellows who are trying to make a living instead of the expenses here,” Robertson said.
Fields said it would probably be more controversial to wait until just before the election to vote for the increases. Robertson said he doesn’t think people run for city office for the money.
Voting for the motion were Council Members Fields, Karen Kurilko, Shaffer and Michelle Whetsell. Councilman Mike Lipscomb was absent.
Also at the meeting:
Jimmy Maier asked council if it has designated how to use the 1% city sales tax that began July 1. Council said it has not because it has no estimate how much money will be collected. Replacing the street sweeper and some city vehicles has been discussed, council said. Maier urged council to also consider streets and sidewalks.
Council approved a business license for a new ice cream shop, Scoop & Joy LLC, to be located at 212 W. Main St., the former Estep and Shaffer offices.
Council told Paul Dixon storm water running from his neighbors onto his property, causing damage, is a civil matter and it cannot help.
Debbie Delauder was appointed to the Water Board.
