Charleston Mayor Danny Jones wants a raise for his successor and the rest of City Council.
Jones told members of City Council during Monday evening's Finance Committee meeting that he plans to recommend a pay raise for the incoming mayor in 2019, from $100,000 to $125,000 annually.
Then, in 2023, Jones proposed, the mayor's salary would increase again to $150,000.
"The mayor still won't be the highest paid person in the city," Jones said. "There are people that wear uniforms who make more money than I do, and that's OK with me."
Under state law, any changes in compensation for an elected official cannot be made during their current term, City Attorney Paul Ellis said.
"If they made any change, it would take effect at the next election," Ellis said.
The next city election is in 2019.
Because he's not running for re-election, Jones noted that any salary increase for the next mayor won't affect him.
Jones also proposed a pay increase for City Council members. Each of the 26 Council members currently receive $200 for each meeting.
Jones wants to increase it to $250 per meeting.
"This is all subject to an amendment from Council. You all can amend it if you don't like it, but if you decide not to do it, you can do that, too," Jones said.
Local attorney Charles "Rusty" Webb also was sworn into Council on Monday to replace former Councilman John Miller, who resigned earlier this month, citing health issues.
Webb will represent Ward 17, which includes most of Kanawha City. He will sit on the Parks and Recreation, Public Safety and Facilities committees.
Council also approved a few amendments to the 2016-2017 budget on Monday.
The first budget amendment is for $354,000 in proceeds from the city's insurance provider, Brit Insurance Services USA, based on a claim the city paid to settle a lawsuit with former WVU basketball player Willie Akers after he received several injuries from a fall at the Civic Center in 2013.
Another budget amendment for $95,000 in revenue is coming from a settlement between the city and Ohio Valley Spray Foam, a company that the city sued in 2015 after numerous leaks were found at the North Charleston Community Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, resulting in widespread water damage. Ohio Valley installed spray foam roofing at the centers in 2006 and 2007.
The city also recognized funds it received from the America's Best Communities competition after it failed to advance to the final round last year.
"They actually gave us $25,000 as a consolation prize for getting as far as we did in the competition," City Manager David Molgaard said.
The Charleston Area Alliance is receiving $15,000 to go toward expenses for street fairs on Capitol Street.
The city will put the remaining $10,000 toward developing a strategy to market the EDGE project concept to prospective participants, Molgaard said.
Also on Monday, Council voted to:
n Approve a proposal by Foremost Medical Equipment for the purchase of two reconditioned Lifepak 15 Monitors in the amount of $37,990 to be used by the Charleston Police Department.
n Voted to approve two resolutions honoring the late Councilman Archie Chestnut and former Councilman John Miller.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.