ABOVE: Danville Alderwoman Tricia Teague (second from left).
With adjustments to City of Danville elected official salaries following the 2027 spring elections due to be on the May 5th City Council meeting agenda, what happened at Tuesday (April 28th) evening’s Public Services Committee meeting seems to indicate there is more debate to come. Most of the debate has involved the City Treasurer and Mayor positions, with much of the Treasurer discussion concerning whether the position should be changed from elected to appointed.
But on the Mayor’s salary issue, it’s all about should Danville’s mayor be making more in order to attract solid pools of candidates in the future?
The mayor’s salary was $75,000 from 2019-23, followed by incremental increases to $95,000, $100,000, $105,000 and $110,000 through 2027. Mayor Williams has proposed setting the 2027 salary at $130,000 with annual 3 percent increases.
Alderwoman Tricia Teague, who will be announcing her own candidacy for mayor on May 4th, mentioned during the meeting that if you make the mayor’s salary too appealing, you could end up having someone who wants the money but doesn’t want to do the work. She told CIMG afterwards that she still prefers annual increases of $5,000.
AUDIO: I currently feel like the position is overpaid. But, I know that I am in the minority on that. So, to me, a reasonable compromise; which is what we did four years ago when I worked with the late Alderman Iverson on this; is to continue what we came up with four years ago. Which was $5,000 a year.
(1st Picture) Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr (center). (2nd Picture) Danville Alderman Doug Ahrens (second from right).
But the most interesting part of the salaries discussion was significant back-and-forth comments between Mayor Williams and Alderman Doug Ahrens. Ahrens stated that if there is a substantial increase in the mayor’s salary, then a way for the Council to evaluate the performance of the mayor, and remove him or her if possible; should be added to the picture. Mayor Williams stated afterwards that this is simply a desire for control; from, in his eyes, a future mayoral candidate.
AUDIO: I believe that separation of powers were implemented for a reason. And it’s always been Alderman Ahrens’ position that he wants to control the executive. And that he’s soon to enter the race for mayor he wants to subject the existing mayor to scrutiny. I don’t think that that’s fair or reasonable.
Williams stated during the meeting that the mayor is subject to the decision of the voters, and questioning by aldermen during Council meetings. Ahrens stated that separation of powers may exist in Washington, but federal legislators still have the right to impeach the president.
In speaking with CIMG after the meeting, Ahrens cited as an example of something that should be looked at as situations where inadequate information has been provided to the Council at times, prior to important Council votes.
