Morris council shoots down raises for mayor, city clerk
By Sarwat S. Ahmad For The Herald-News October 17, 2012 6:28PM
Updated: November 19, 2012 3:34PM
MORRIS — The mayor and city clerk won’t be getting a raise as municipal employees did earlier this year, as city council members this week shot down a proposed pay hike.
The mayor’s salary would have increased by three percent to $83,000 in the fiscal year that starts May 1, under the plan. It then would have increased to $85,500, $88,000 and $90,500 during the three following fiscal years. The city clerk’s salary would have increased to $72,100 next fiscal year, and then to $74,275, $76,500, and $79,000 for the following three years under the plan.
Both offices are up for election in April.
Aldermen Ken Sereno, Julian Houston and Bill Martin voted for the pay hike, while Aldermen Drew Muffler and Don Hansen opposed the plan. Aldermen Randy Larson, Barry Aldrich and Duane Wolfe were not present.
Mayor Richard P. Kopczick said he, “has never been in the job for the money.” Kopczick said he has never seen a pay raise for elected officials not pass since he joined the city council as an alderman in 1995.
The council last year decided to cut city aldermen salaries from $5,800 to $4,800 starting in May, when they also will no longer receive a $25 meeting stipend. Larson, Houston, Aldrich and Wolfe, however, will continue receiving their current pay and stipend through April 30, 2015.
The mayor aused to get $15,000 per year as liquor commissioner, but city officials cut that to $5,000 starting in May.
