Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990 TAG: 9004190207
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Councilman Michael Chandler proposed the increase at a budget work session Tuesday night and drew support from three of the five council members present.
"No one's in it for the money," Chandler said. But since council last raised its salary to $200 in 1982, it has had to face more complex issues that demand more time. "The demands, what we've been through and what we will be through warrant council giving consideration to adjusting its compensation," Chandler said.
According to council policy, four members must consent to adding the matter to the agenda for formal discussion. Waldon Kerns and Frances Parsons are out of town this week and could not be reached for comment.
If either one agrees to add it to the agenda, council could consider the raise at its next scheduled meeting Tuesday, a week before adopting the 1990-91 budget.
Town Manager Ron Secrist said if council votes to give itself a raise, he could make appropriate changes in the $9 million budget to come up with the additional $14,400.
"It would be folly to say any of us are in this for money, but council is undercompensated. It's as simple as that," Mayor Roger Hedgepeth said.
Council raised the mayor's salary last year from $300 to $500 a month, although raises don't take effect until the members' re-election. Hedgepeth, Joyce Lewis, Al Leighton and Lewis Barnett are up for re-election May 1.
Barnett objected to the increase, but said said he would support it if a majority of council did.
Lewis also opposed the raise, even though council members aren't paid enough for the work they do, she said. "The timing is not right to raise employees' salaries 5 percent, and ours 100 percent," Lewis said. "I think . . . you're doing it more for volunteer than for pay."
If council votes for a raise, members ought to be paid according to attendance at meetings, she said.
The issue of raising council's salary has come up several times over the past eight years and was formally voted down in 1986.
"Council's usual idea," Hedgepeth said, "is that we support the idea but that it is not the proper year" to raise salaries.
"It's just political. It's just like Congress or anybody else - it's a little bit testy for elected officers to raise their own salaries," he said.
Council also discussed its policy for funding cultural groups. Several organizations had asked for a total of $17,000 in next year's budget at a recent hearing.
Council agreed to stick to its policy of not giving money to groups outside of Blacksburg, such as Center in the Square. A local group, Blacksburg Master Chorale, submitted a request too late for inclusion in the 1990-91 budget, Secrist said.
Chandler suggested the town should establish a community development account "for worthy community activities."
Council is scheduled to adopt the budget April 30 at 5 p.m.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on April 21, 1990 in Current\ Correction Because of a reporter's error, a story in Thursday's New River Current incorrectly stated that the Blacksburg Master Chorale submitted a request for funding too late for inclusion in the Town of Blacksburg's 1990-91 budget. The group's request was on time.
Memo: Correction