Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A matter of the mayor’s salary came up at the Farmington city council meeting Monday night.
Councilman Dave Baker brought a proposal to formally abolish the mayor’s wages, since the funds have been used for a raise for the city clerk.
When new mayor Ron Dugan took office in April, he refused the $150 per month salary, suggesting the town should use it to give Barb Dial-Flomer a raise.
The council approved.
Since the money is now claimed, Baker suggested the mayor’s pay be eliminated, to be sure the next mayor does not expect it.
“If we abolish it now, the next mayor could still ask for some funding,” he said.
Dugan has said that he will not seek a second term when his current one ends in 16 months.
“I don’t really care what you do on this,” Dugan told the council. “My feeling is that a person who becomes a mayor of Farmington should be a person of some accomplishment. By definition, a person of some accomplishment doesn’t need $150 a month.”
Three years ago, the council voted to pay the mayor $150 per month.
Before that, longtime mayor Royce Johnson was paid as part of his job as the city maintenance supervisor.
In the end, Baker’s proposal was tabled due to two absent council members. The matter will be taken up at the next meeting.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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