The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes City recorder Randy Sanders and Mayor Dave McCauley speak during a discussion about elected city officials’ salaries during Thursday’s Buckhannon City Council meeting.

BUCKHANNON — An ordinance to increase the salary of the city recorder by just over $5,000 passed its first reading Thursday night and council will explore increasing other elected officials’ salaries.

The second reading of Ordinance 440 will be heard at the Jan. 16 meeting, and if passed there the ordinance will go into effect 30 days later.

The ordinance brings the city recorder salary to $15,600, up from $9,000.

Under the ordinance, $500 will come from the general fund and $200 from each of the four boards — water, sanitary, waste and Consolidated Public Works each month.

The reason for the increase discussed at the last meeting and mentioned in the ordinance is that the salary was inadequate to compensate the city recorder for the increased and myriad responsibilities of the office as well as the time required to effectively discharge the responsibilities of the office.

Councilman Dave Thomas moved to approve the ordinance, seconded by councilwoman Pam Bucklew and the ordinance passed first reading with city recorder Randy Sanders abstaining. Councilwoman Mary Albaugh was absent.

Sanders noted in his closing comments he did not ask for the raise and would not receive the raise unless he were to be elected to the position in May.

“That is for the new city recorder,” he said. “I do intend to run but I hope whoever the next city recorder is that they will dedicate themselves to being a professional, business type person and take every opportunity to give back to the community above and beyond.”

Sanders, who was appointed to the position earlier this year following the resignation of Colin Reger, said, “It’s been a great learning experience. Being involved in all the different boards and all the different activities of the city has really opened my eyes as to what it is we do to better the lives of the other members of the community.”

Sanders said he enjoyed getting to know the employees and see the work being done.

“I wish every citizen could meet every employee of the city,” he said.

Council also voted 4-2 Thursday to establish a committee to explore pay raises for the mayor and council positions.

Thomas, who has championed looking at the salaries of all elected city officials in recent meetings, said now was the time to look at it with the mayor and three council positions on the city ballot in the May election.

“None of us can give ourselves an increase,” Thomas said, pointing out that himself and councilwoman Mary Albaugh were not eligible for any pay raises due to their seats not being on the ballot until 2022.

“It’s been 16 years since the council and the mayor have had an increase,” he said. “I think it’s time we take a serious look at providing something for these positions. If you take a look at the responsibilities that the council has and especially the recorder and the mayor, it doesn’t make any sense not to give an increase this next cycle.”

Council last addressed the salary of the recorder and other elected officials in 2004.

As for council members, Thomas said they each receive about $400 a month, or $4,800 a year.

We meet more than just two council meetings. We are on a board and we have other meetings too, especially during the budgeting process.”

Currently, the mayor receives around $20,000 and Thomas suggested bumping that to $30,000.

At the last meeting, mayor David McCauley said he would not accept any increase in salary.

The mayor position is on the ballot for the May election.

Thomas said, “David, you said you did not want to accept that but that’s you, it’s a position.”

He added that everyone on council donates to the city.

“We are all trying to do things to make our city better,” he said. “I would give some of that back. I think all of us do that.”

Councilwoman Pam Cuppari said she would like to see Thomas and Albaugh serve on a committee with director of finance and administration Amby Jenkins to report back to council.

McCauley said he agreed with Thomas and Albaugh’s being on the committee due to their seats not being eligible for any raise until after the 2022 election.

But Rylands and McCauley both voted against the committee formation.

In his comments, Rylands said, “I think there is a difference between public service and public employment.”

He referred to the city council as an at-will public service.

“It’s not employment,” he said. “If you are compelled to serve the community, you do so without expectation of payment.”

Rylands said he would not support increasing the pay of the other council members.

“I think you should be compelled by trying to do be something bigger than yourself and making decisions in what you truly believe to be the best interest of the community,” he said.

Councilman Robbie Skinner said he couldn’t say it any better than the way Rylands had put it and noted when he voted for the committee it was for discussion only.

Cuppari moved to establish the committee and Skinner seconded the motion. The motion passed four to three with Thomas, Bucklew, Skinner and Sanders voting yes and Rylands and McCauley voting no.