Council In Favor of Pay Increases

When Hyattsville City Council members sign on to help make laws for the city, they don’t get compensated for a full-time position, but they do often put in comparable hours.

The mayor is paid $6,415 and council members are paid $4,277 yearly.

“I would guess that after taxes most [of the council members] make less than $5 an hour,” said Mayor William Gardiner and a March 7 council meeting where the council voted in favor of increasing mayoral and council pay after the May 2013 city election.

This was the first reading of the motion, which would up the pay for the mayor—Gardiner is not running for re-election this year—to $7,600 in 2013 and $7,800 in 2014. For council members, the pay would increase to $5,000 in 2013 and then to $5,200 in 2014.

The motion was birthed out of recommendation by the city’s compensation review committee, which the council was required to appoint before the mayoral election.

Councilman Douglas Dudrow (Ward 1) said that he’s had to purchase a computer and a fax machine to use for his work on the city council.

“We’re not here to make money but it’s also not supposed to cost us,” he said. “We’ve lost good council members because they realized that their babysitter was making more than they were.”

Some council members are concerned that not offering competitive compensation will deter residents from running for elective office.

“We’re trying to entice future candidates,” said Councilman Matt McKnight (Ward 3).

The compensation review board made their findings after looking at what other local municipalities offer their mayors and council members, according to Council President Marc Tartaro (Ward 1).

“The American way is competition,” said Councilman David Hiles (Ward 2).

Councilwoman Paula Perry (Ward 4) cast the lone nay vote.

“I took this job because I feel it’s an honor to work for my city and to work for my residents,” she said. “To me any amount of money cannot replace that.”

Perry suggested putting the pay raise out for a referendum to let the public decide, but according to the city charter only the council can accept or reject its own compensation increase, Gardiner said.

He expects that a motion to adopt the increases will be on the agenda for the council’s next meeting.