TAYLOR — City Council members voted to give themselves a pay raise Thursday, Aug. 17, in spite of several residents voicing objections during a packed special meeting.
Leaders voted 3-2 in favor of the hike after holding two back-to-back public hearings during the session.
Dwayne Ariola and Mitch Drummond cast the dissenting votes, while Mayor Brandt Rydell and councilmen Robert Garcia and Gerald Anderson signaled their approval.
A compensation committee appointed by the council earlier had recommended only an increase of $250 per month for each position.
Deciding against the committee’s suggestion, the council July 27 began discussing raising stipends from $25 to $1,000 per month and to $1,500 per month for the mayor.
In addition, the ad hoc committee recommended an incremental allocation of the increases to take place over the next couple of election cycles.
Instead, the council opted for the new payments to begin Oct. 1.
“I cannot support it as written,” Drummond said before the vote. “I think we can go back with the original recommendations from the (committee) and push them through. That was a good solution.”
Several audience members had harsh words about the ordinance.
“Even from the perspective of the most casual observer, this ordinance is blatantly disrespectful to the advisory committee that you appointed,” resident Michael Prillaman said. “But to the people actually paying attention, it is much worse than that.”
Read more about the special council meeting in the next edition of the Taylor Press.
