Panel looks at paying city councilors

The Whitefish city government review commission is kicking around the possibility of paying the mayor and city councilors for their positions.

This is one of several ideas the three-person panel brought before City Council at a May 4 work session. The commission, made up of Ken Williams, Turner Askew and Rebecca Norton, met with council to get input on a few items.

While the decision would ultimately come down to a vote from residents, several councilors didn’t like the idea of being paid.

“There’s something to be said for a volunteer effort,” councilor Jen Frandsen said.

“Do we lose good candidates because they can’t afford to do it?” asked councilor Andy Feury.

The six city councilors receive no salary for their work, which includes twice-a-month meetings, work sessions, committee meetings and other obligations. The mayor is also unpaid.

Councilors and mayors in most Montana towns are paid. The salary often depends on the size of the community. Kalispell council members receive an annual salary of $5,000 plus a $900 stipend. Columbia Falls councilors earn $200 per month.

Councilor Frank Sweeney said that pay might not make a difference in whether a candidate runs.

“What’s the number — $200 or $500,” he said.

Frandsen noted that if she did not own her own business she wouldn’t be able to devote the time it takes to serving on council.

“If I were an hourly employee, I would have been fired long ago,” she said.  

The panel also brought up the idea of implementing wards for councilors. Currently, councilors are elected to serve the entire city, but under a ward system would have to live in and would represent different geographic areas of the city.

Norton said wards have been suggested as a way to get more interaction between councilors and citizens.

“There seems to be a gap of access and people not knowing who to go to with concerns,” she said.

Council didn’t like the idea of specific wards saying it is already a challenge to get candidates to run for city council.

Feury said the small geographic size of the city would make it difficult to get enough candidates to serve in every ward.

“It’s not like any area of the city has needs that are different from any other part of the city,” he added.

Some councilors did say they would be open to creating a system where councilors would meet with various neighborhoods to hear input and concerns.  

The Montana Constitution requires residents get the opportunity every 10 years to study their government through a citizen-led commission.

“Whitefish has historically embraced reviewing its government,” Williams said.

According to state law, the purpose of the study commission is to allow citizens to evaluate their governments and decide whether changes are needed. The commission has the ability to examine several aspects of local government, including its form and powers, its structure and how well it provides essential services.

The commission will eventually release a report with its final recommendations. Changes to the city charter will have to go before the voters.

“I think the structure is working well,” Williams said. “I don’t think there will be sweeping changes.”

In 2005, the government review commission recommended changing the mayoral term from two to four years, which was done. Another recommendation to pay council members for their time was not approved.

The city government review commission will be sending out surveys with water bills to gather input on how the city government is working. The commission also meets every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m. at City Hall.