Assembly takes first step in asking public approval to pay members

The assembly last week took the first step toward seeking voter approval to someday pay members for their work.

The assembly on July 23 approved in first reading an ordinance that would put the question to voters on the Oct. 1 municipal election ballot; they set a public hearing on the ordinance for Aug. 27.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would not result in immediate compensation for assembly members and the mayor. Instead, it would only remove a provision from the borough charter prohibiting such payments.

The assembly would need to pass another ordinance before a payment plan could be written into municipal law.

Borough Manager Mason Villarma said providing compensation could help appeal to people who would otherwise not consider running for seats on the assembly. He believes assembly positions appeal predominantly to retired community members, people with free time who don’t necessarily need any payment.

But with appropriate compensation, Villarma hopes assembly positions would appeal to a wider range of candidates.

Assembly members in February discussed the merits of a small payment plan, then later realized it would require a charter amendment as a first step. The proposal raised in February would have paid members $150 per meeting they attend, with the mayor earning $225 per meeting.

The charter amendment, if the assembly puts it on the ballot, would not set the payment amount. That would come later in an ordinance if the assembly decides to pursue it.

Compensation is relatively standard across Southeast Alaska, making Wrangell’s unpaid assembly members the exception — not the rule.

According to their respective municipal codes, Petersburg assembly members receive $150 per meeting, while Sitka assembly members receive $500 per month. Ketchikan Gateway Borough assembly members earn $350 per month in addition to $150 per meeting.

Mayors tend to receive slightly higher compensation than assembly members. In Petersburg, the mayor receives $225 per meeting, while Sitka’s mayor receives $800 each month. In the Ketchikan borough, the mayor receives a salary of $1,000 every month on top of $75 per assembly meeting.

The Wrangell assembly will hold a public hearing on putting the charter amendment on the ballot during their Aug. 27 meeting at City Hall.