Salary hikes will be voted on

KINGSTON -- Council directed its solicitor, Harry Mattern, to draft two resolutions reflecting salary increases for the mayor and council president for vote at December's meeting.

The resolutions will propose an annual salary for the mayor of $12,000, a $4,000 increase, and an additional $50 per month for council president.

Base salary for a council member is $300 per month.

Although its municipal charter requires a vote on these changes by the end of 2012, new salaries would become effective January 2014, with current members not necessarily benefiting from the increase.

No one is voting themselves a raise, said Municipal Administrator Paul Keating.

Mayor James Haggerty said he believed the salary for the office of mayor should be set at $21,000, reflecting the inflation rate since the municipality's original charter in 1976.

A gradual incremental increase in salary is more realistic, said council member Nancy Cooper, crediting the mayor's office with consistent standard of hard work.

In another matter, Keating announced the final budget for 2013 would be presented for council vote at a special meeting to be held on Dec. 3.

Keating said the delay in presentation of the budget would give opportunity for department heads to share their input on any cost-cutting measures affecting them.

Keating said there would be no tax increase for borough residents for the year 2013.

He lauded Berkheimer Associates, for its efforts in bringing the borough current with tax collection.

In another matter, Bill Letwinsky, Mericle Commercial Real Estate, presented Wyoming Seminary's proposal for renovations to Nesbitt Memorial Field, to be voted on at council's December meeting.

The next meeting of the municipal council will be on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.