Constitution adjustments rising pay for Westover officers passes first learn

WESTOVER — Modifications to Westover’s metropolis constitution rising the pay for the positions of mayor and metropolis councilor have been permitted on first studying Monday by Westover Metropolis Council. 

The adjustments, which is able to take impact July 1, 2024, if in the end adopted, will enhance the wage for mayor from $55,000 to $75,000 and embody the mayor in future cost-of-living raises permitted by council. 

“That’s the way it bought to date behind all people else,” Metropolis Clerk Sandie Weis mentioned of the choice to incorporate the mayor in COLA will increase. “Particularly if we go to a four-year time period. You’ll be able to solely give a increase to the mayor six months previous to an election. So, if we get the four-year time period, it could be locked in for 4 years.” 

Westover’s subsequent municipal election shall be a part of the county’s 2024 main. One of many questions dealing with the town’s voters shall be whether or not they wish to prolong the time period of workplace for mayor from two to 4 years. 

Mayor Bob Lucci abstained within the in any other case unanimous vote in help of the pay enhance for mayor.

As for council, pay will leap from $80 per assembly to $120 per assembly if the constitution change is in the end adopted. 

The physique was given the choice of $100 or $120 and selected the latter. Edie Viola and Alli Jackson abstained with all others voting in favor. 

By means of comparability, Morgantown Metropolis Council’s final pay enhance was permitted in October 2005. At the moment, the pay to attend the 2 common conferences every month was raised from $125 to $250 per assembly for councilors ($6,000) and from $150 to $350 ($8,400) for the member serving as mayor.  

Westover has a powerful mayor authorities whereas Morgantown has a metropolis supervisor and a mayor chosen from inside council. 

Because the adjustments require amending the town’s constitution, passage by ordinance would require a essential public listening to forward of adoption. 

In different information from Monday’s assembly, Weis mentioned the state’s Municipal House Rule Board has permitted the town’s software. 

The applying included a 1% municipal gross sales tax and 5 code enforcement issues primarily aimed toward aiding the town in addressing deserted, dilapidated and blighted properties in a timelier method and with out courtroom orders. 

It was beforehand defined the gross sales tax may have a $3.3 million influence on the town’s backside line.  

Assuming the wanted ordinance receives council approval, the tax will seemingly take impact July 1, 2024. 

Lastly, council permitted a pair of bids to tear down and exchange the concession constructing in Westover Metropolis Park. 

The primary, to raze the present constructing and assemble a retaining wall, went to Anderson Excavating, whose $94,998 provide was the bottom of eight bidders. 

The second, to assemble a pole constructing on the positioning, went to RM Buildings Inc. of Jane Lew for $35,342.