City passes ordinances increasing mayor, council#039;s salaries
Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 2, 2006
City officials approved a pair of ordinances increasing the mayor and city council's salaries starting in 2008, the year of the next general election.
The next mayor of Greenville will receive a salary of $48,000 annually, up from $13,000, while each council member will receive $8,400 in annual compensation. Council members are currently paid $3,600 per year.
Monday night's vote to approve the ordinances wasn't without dissent, though.
Councilmember Tommy Ryan voted no on both ordinances.
“My vote was not against (Mayor) Dexter McLendon, the person, because I truly believe he is doing an outstanding job as Mayor,” said Ryan. “After a lot of thinking and discussion with constituents, I simply believe that a lesser salary would have been appropriate for mayor and council, regardless of who is in office.”
Councilmember Jean Thompson voted yes to a pay raise for the mayor, but no on a council pay increase.
Thompson said $13,000 for the amount of work the mayor puts in was an “insult.”
But Thompson felt an increase from $300 to $700 per month for each council member was unwarranted.
“I thought it was just too much of a jump,” she said.
Councilmember James Lewis said he thought the raises were due. Lewis has served on the council for 22 years.
“I don't think people really realize how much is required of you (as a council member),” he said. “When people have a problem, they call you. And it doesn't matter what time of the night it is. This is something (public office) I wanted to do, but I don't think anyone would have worked at a job for 22 years without a pay raise. I'm glad it passed.”
In other business, the council:
n Approved Resolution 2006-12, awarding the bid to Sunbelt Fire for a high-pressure compressor workstation for refilling self contained breathing apparatus equipment for the fire department. The bid amount was $33,238 with 95 percent of the funding through FEMA.
n Authorized up to $40,000 in repairs to the old depot.
n Approved Resolution 2006-13 authorizing the acceptance of a $139,799 grant from FEMA for acquisition of flood damaged residential property located at 629, 631 and 633 Milner St. The city's in-kind services and cash-match is $46,000. The goal of the project is to remove the existing structures and prevent construction on the repeatedly flood prone properties.
n Authorized bids for gas and diesel purchases and recreation equipment.
n Approved Resolution 2006-14 authorizing the city to enter into a contract with Garver Engineers, LLC in the amount of $43,046 for professional engineering services on the airport hangar project.
n Approved Resolution 2006-15 authorizing an agreement with the social security administration for use of office space in the Beeland Park Recreation Center.
n Approved Resolution 2006-16 allowing the city to enter into an agreement with the Joseph Ministries Organization for use of storage space in the rescue barn building.
n Approved the following expenditures: $19,559 to Travis Heartsill, $1,000 to Baker Metal Works, $2,000 to Stephens Concrete, $55.90 to Southern Sand & Gravel, and $1,887 to Greenville Cash and Carry for construction of two dugouts at Cavanaugh Field in the Beeland Complex; $1,200 to Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. for Right of Way Acquisition contract; $8,618 to Central Fire Services for a fire suppression and hood system for Beeland Park; $7,612 to Crews Window & Insulation, Co., $1,346 .18 to Greenville Cash and Carry, $5,813.35 to Baker Metal Works, and $13,320 to Kent Tanner to replace the roof, repair rotten frame work and install vinyl vents at Fire Station No. 2.