City Council approves pay increase for elected officials

City Council members made two changes in policy last week that were centered on themselves: stricter guidelines for those attending meetings and an increase in compensation paid to the city’s elected officials.

The pay proposal was spearheaded by Ward 2 Councilman Kelly Harris, who will leave office in January after he decided against seeking re-election because of health issues. The proposal would increase the compensation paid to the mayor and council members by $5,000 a year, beginning July 1, 2025. In addition, there would be an allocation to the mayor pro tem of $2,500 per year, a fee he/she would receive in addition to the $10,000 in compensation council members would receive under the new plan. The mayor’s compensation would increase to $20,000 a year.

Harris said the higher compensation may encourage more people to run for municipal office. He said during the most recent election cycle, there weren’t many people who filed for the three city offices up for election, and he wondered if compensation might be part of the reason. Harris said he routinely puts 20 to 30 hours a week into his council duties, in addition to the time he spends running his business.

“Younger people with a job may not have that flexibility,” he said, explaining he has flexibility because he owns his own business, while other council members are retired.

Harris also said the compensation level for council members and the mayor hasn’t changed since 2005, “and inflation has bitten into that.” City officials have said compensation is intended to offset expenses elected officials may incur while performing their duties, such as driving their private vehicles to events.

“The money will take care of expenses,” Harris said. “It makes it easier to do the job you were elected to do.”

Council members also amended their policy that guides City Council meetings, the second time in recent months a change in those Rules of Procedure has been made. Those rules are set by the council itself to guide activities related to meetings.

Here, the changes established reserved seating for city staff, credentialed members of the media and guests invited by city staff to make presentations to the council. A second amendment establishes designated areas in the auditorium for recording devices and associated equipment, used by citizens and credentialed members of the media. The amendments, approved without discussion because they were on the consent agenda, are designed for “the safety, efficiency and minimal distraction during City Council meetings,” according to the agenda commentary.

The policy reserves the auditorium’s front row of seats for the optional use of city staff, credentialed members of the media and guests invited for presentations. Those individuals may sit in other places, but the front row will be reserved for their use to provide “convenient access,” the policy states.

Access, safety and compliance with fire code regulations are the factors prompting the proposal to restrict recording devices to specific areas of the auditorium.

Under the rule, citizens and members of the media may not set up equipment-supported recording devices in any aisle of the auditorium, or in immediate proximity to the dais “to maintain a clear, safe pathway for all attendees.” That equipment also isn’t permitted on the balcony in the rear of the auditorium, or on the stairs leading to the upper area.

Equipment-supported recording devices may only be used in the back and east and west back sides of the auditorium. According to the policy, that placement ensures recordings can be made without obstructing the view of other attendees, or walkways. The City of Lawton’s communications and marketing employees may operate in areas closed to the public, under the policy.