Elmore considers raises for officials

4/20/2005

Elmore Village Council considered raising the salaries of the mayor and the village councilmen last week.

They gave a first reading to the ordinance that would increase the council's pay rates in anticipation that the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System will raise annual minimum requirements for qualifying employees that have full-time pension status to $5,400 a year, Council president Robert Eickel said.

Councilmen are paid $3,000 a year; the president of council is paid $3,500 a year; and the mayor is paid $4,000 a year.

If the ordinance is approved, councilmen would be paid $5,400 annually; the council president would get $5,900 annually; and the mayor would be paid $6,400 annually.

The salary increases would go into effect for the next round of elected officials on Jan. 1, 2006 only if the Ohio retirement system raises the minimum requirements, Fiscal Officer Robin Damschroder said. Four councilmen are up for re-election this year.

In other business, Mr. Eickel said council will most likely appoint someone to fill the council seat recently vacated by Kevin Cullen.

Mr. Cullen, who filled an empty council seat less than a year ago, resigned because he is moving out of the village, Mr Eickel said.

So far, he said Matt Damschroder and Nikki Gyuras, who have served on council, have applied for the empty seat that is up for re-election in November.

If council doesn't appoint someone to the position on Monday, the decision will revert to the mayor.