By David DeKunder
Staff Writer

The Schertz City Council July 8 gave final approval to an ordinance that would substantially compensate council members and the mayor for their services.

After weeks of discussion and deliberation, council members approved 3-2 an ordinance that would pay the mayor $300 a month and council members $200 a month. The new ordinance includes a car mileage allowance of $150 a month for the mayor, $75 a month for council members.

Under the new compensation rates, which go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010, the mayor would be compensated $5,400 a year and council members $3,300 a year. The compensation rates for the mayor and five council members would cost the city a total of $21,900 per year.

Councilmen Michael Carpenter, John Trayhan and Jim Fowler voted for the ordinance. Councilmen David Scagliola and Tony Wilenchik voted against the measure because they felt it should go before city residents in an election. Mayor Hal Baldwin, who cannot vote unless there is a tie, has also said the compensation adjustments should be decided by voters.

The previous compensation rates, which were last set in 1974, were $6 a meeting for the mayor and $3 a meeting for council members.

The new compensation rates will take effect Jan. 1, 2010, so that current council members would not benefit from them unless they are re-elected. Provisions allow the mayor and council members to decline the pay on an individual basis.

Council members approved adjusting the compensation rates June 24 and approved the first reading of the ordinance by the same narrow 3-2 vote July 1. The first reading of the ordinance was approved after council members made changes to the original proposal by reducing the mayor’s car allowance rate from $250 to $150 a month and the council members’ car allowance rates from $150 to $75 a month.