2019.08.12 Council Agenda Item 7
Summary
Order to allow individual town councilors to submit requests for expense reimbursements, not to exceed $75/month, retroactive to July 1, 2019, until June 30, 2020. Such authorization to expire on June 30, 2020.
A public comment period will be included with this item (3 minutes per person).
ACTION: Council action is anticipated.
Description
The rate of compensation Falmouth offers its Town Councilors has not been updated in at least 20 years, and lags behind the rate used for comparable towns. The proposed amendment would increase councilor compensation from $40/meeting to $75/meeting, and would provide an additional stipend for the Council Chair.
Section 205 of the Charter states that no increase in compensation shall take effect until the next Town fiscal year. The FY20 budget included an increase in compensation but this section of the Charter will prohibit an increase in compensation. The Council could receive expense reimbursements because the Charter language speaks to compensation in the form of wages. Not unlike other town employees, the Council could submit requests for expense reimbursements. The budget would allow up to $75/month. This order will allow such reimbursements and set a limit to be within parameters of the approved budget. It would be up to each Councilor to submit a log of eligible expenses, such as mileage, cell phone use, internet use, etc.
A copy of the order is attached.
