CP officials could get pay boost for meetings
By Carrie Napoleon Post-Tribune correspondent September 4, 2012 8:46PM
Updated: September 4, 2012 11:01PM
CROWN POINT — Elected officials may be getting a pay bump in 2013 based on the boards, commissions and committees on which they serve.
On Tuesday, the city council approved the first reading of an elected officials’ salary ordinance that would not change the annual pay of elected officials.
Salaries remain at $7,023 for council members, $74,560 for the mayor and $73,055 for the clerk treasurer. They would earn additional money for meetings they attend outside of the council.
Under the proposal, elected officials would receive a stipend for sitting on some of the city’s boards, commissions and committees.
Elected officials serving on the Board of Works would receive a $250 per meeting stipend, Plan Commission members a $150 per meeting stipend, Board of Zoning Appeals and Redevelopment Commission members would receive $100 per meeting.
Elected officials sitting on a committee would receive $50 per meeting and another $25 if they serve as chairman or president. Members would not receive the stipend if they are absent from the meeting.
City Attorney David Nicholls said the ordinance is proactive regarding how elected officials can earn that extra pay.
“If you attend you’re compensated, if you do not attend you are not,” Nicholls said.
Andrew Kyres, D-3, council president, said officials still have time to consider if this is the route they want to go.
“We do have another study session,” Kyres said. He said under the proposal, elected officials would not get the $1,000 stipend full-time employees will receive.
On Tuesday, the council also approved the first reading of the non-elected employee salary ordinance. In lieu of a raise in 2013 all full-time employees stand to receive a $1,000 stipend in 2013 if the city’s budget is approved.
