ORDINANCE ADJUSTING AND ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

ORDINANCE NO. 015-18
ORDINANCE ADJUSTING AND ESTABLISHING THE COMPENSATION
OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
(EFFECTIVE ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF NOVEMBER 2020)
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council (the “City Council”) of the City of Opelika,
Alabama (the “City”) as follows:
Section 1. FINDINGS. The City Council has ascertained and does hereby find, determine and declare as follows:
(a) The laws of the State of Alabama authorize the City Council to fix the compensation of the Mayor and each Council member prior to the commencement of the term to which the Mayor and Council members have been elected.
(b) The salaries of the Mayor and City Council members must be fixed by the Council not less than six months prior to each general municipal election.
(c) The salaries and compensation of the Mayor and Council members may not be increased nor decreased during the term for which they have been elected.
(d) The salaries of the Mayor and City Council members were last adjusted on February 19, 2008.
(e) The compensation for the Mayor and Council members should be fair and adequate with respect to the scope and complexity of their responsibilities.
(f) The Mayor’s salary should be on par with the salaries of City employees or elected officials in other jurisdictions with comparable workload, responsibilities and obligations.
(g) The compensation of the Mayor and Council members should be appropriately compatible by local living standards so that qualified citizens are not deterred from running for offices because of economic considerations.
(h) Currently the salaries of the elected officials in Opelika are:.
• Mayor — $72,000
• President of the City Council — $13,200
• Council Member — $12,000
(i) The responsibilities of the Mayor have increased and are not on par with the salaries of City employees or officials in other jurisdictions with comparable workload, responsibilities and obligations.
(j) The office of Mayor is undercompensated and a substantial salary increase is needed to create a competitive and equitable compensation
package.
(k) The City Council desires to adjust the compensation of the Mayor and City Council members before the next general municipal election in 2020.
Section 2. COMPENSATION OF MAYOR.
(a) The salary of the Mayor of the City of Opelika shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $120,000 annually to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-weekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City.
(b) The Mayor shall be entitled to any benefits normally accruing to any full-time employee of the City, except for participation in the State of Alabama
Employee’s Retirement System.
(c) The Mayor shall be entitled to the use of an automobile at City expense.
Section 3. COMPENSATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
(a) The salary of each City Council member, other than the President of the City Council, shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $13,200
annually to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-weekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City.
(b) The salary of the President of the City Council shall be and the same is hereby fixed at the sum of $14,400 annually to be paid in twenty-six (26) bi-
weekly installments in the same manner as compensation is paid to all full-time employees of the City.
(c) Each City Council member shall be allowed to participate in all group health insurance plans provided by the City to its employees provided each
participating Council member pays all of the costs associated with his or her participation in said group insurance policies. A City Council member may
select either single coverage for himself or herself or family coverage to include his or her eligible dependents. Coverages and benefits for each participating Council member shall be subject to the provisions and requirements of each plan as stated in the specific policy providing such coverage and benefits. The participating Council member shall pay all premiums for his or her medical, hospitalization, dental and vision coverages and shall pay all costs associated with his or her said participation in said group insurance policies. Premium payments shall be made to the City on or before the first day of each month, payable one (1) month’s premium in advance. The City shall not pay the premiums for the participating Council member. The participating Council member shall be responsible for the cost
associated with single or family coverage.
Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall become effective on the first Monday of November, 2020, and shall continue in full force and effect until repealed by action of the City Council.
Section 5. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared
severable. If any portion of this Ordinance shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such ruling shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance.
Section 6. PUBLICATION. The City Clerk is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to cause this Ordinance to be published one (1) time in a newspaper of general
circulation in the City of Opelika, Alabama.
ADOPTED AND APPROVED this the 21 st day of August, 2018.
/s/ Eddie Smith
PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA
ATTEST:
/s/ R. G. Shuman
CITY CLERK
TRANSMITTED TO MAYOR on this the 22 nd day of August, 2018.
/s/ R. G. Shuman
CITY CLERK
ACTION BY MAYOR
APPROVED this the 22 nd day of August, 2018.
/s/ Gary Fuller MAYOR
ATTEST:
/s/ R. G. Shuman
CITY CLERK
LEGAL RUN 8/22/2018