The borough assembly has started a lengthy process that will include a lot of public input, as it should, to possibly amend the municipal charter so that a future assembly, if it chooses, could change municipal code to pay mayors and assembly members for their work.
Allowing the option of paying members a few hundred dollars a month is a good idea — not because so many other cities and boroughs in Alaska have been doing it for years, but because it takes a lot of time to be a good assembly member, more than should be expected of volunteers.
Serving includes regular meetings, special meetings, committee meetings, work sessions and as much reading material for all those meetings as a high school student carries around in their backpack.
A good assembly member should study the issues and come to the meetings prepared to ask questions and explain their positions.
That’s a lot to expect of volunteers 52 weeks a year.
The assembly discussed the idea back in February, raising the argument that paying future members might help attract more people — younger people — to run for election. People who might want to get involved but their household finances are tight, their family time is tighter and child care can be expensive.
Fortunately, Wrangell has no shortage of people with opinions and ideas, but it needs more of them willing to serve in elected office and help lead the community in the years ahead.
Assembly members took the first step last week to amend the charter, scheduling a public hearing for the Aug. 27 assembly meeting at City Hall. After hearing from the public, members could vote to put the charter amendment on the Oct. 1 municipal ballot. If the public votes it down, end of discussion.
But if voters accept the charter amendment, the assembly would have the option of considering an ordinance at a later time to add a pay plan to the municipal code. That would require another public hearing, same as all ordinances. Though members in February discussed a pay rate of $150 per meeting, the amount would be open to future discussion and debate if voters approve a charter amendment.
All that would come later. The next step now is to hear from the public Aug. 27 and, hopefully, put the issue before voters in October.
- Wrangell Sentinel
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