ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – After some initial

procedural confusion and somewhat heated discussion, the next mayor

of Orange Beach will get a raise.

And the council will no longer receive an

annual five percent cost of living raise. The ordinance, which

contained a last-minute amendment increasing the mayor’s pay

eventually passed by a 4-2 margin.

As the ordinance was read for the final time

before a vote, Councilman Jeff Silvers asked for a vote to amend

the measure to raise the mayor’s pay to $42,000 a year from just

more than $30,000.

The salary talk first began when Councilwoman

Pattisue Simpson brought up the issue of pay in a January meeting.

Council members and the mayor have been receiving annual five

percent cost-of-living raises. She reasoned that if the employees

didn’t get a raise, why should the council.

“When I presented this, it was simply to do

away with the five percent cost of living increase,” Simpson said.

“Then what Mr. Silvers came to the table with to increase the

mayor’s salary to $42,000 which kind of does away with the whole

intent of cost containment and losing a five-percent increase. I

have an issue with that.”

Silvers proposed the raise because he said the

next mayor will deal with applying for National Recovery Damage

Assessment grants, the looming possibility of a Wolf Bay Bridge,

the Cross Island Parkway and sitting on a panel disseminating money

from the RESTORE Act.

Oh. And by law all this had to be completed

this month, six months before the next election in August.

Mayor Tony Kennon, who lobbied for the raise

on philosophical terms, then promptly said he would donate the

increase back to the city. Provided he’s the next mayor.

“I don’t want it to be about me,” Kennon said.

“If I am blessed enough to be re-elected and we do vote for the

mayor to have an increase in salary, I will not take that increase.

Now that I say I’m not taking the salary I feel perfectly

comfortable saying whatever I want to say.”

And Kennon then addressed Simpson and

Councilman Brett Holk, both of whom would eventually vote against

the increase.

“First off, Miss Simpson,” Kennon began. “You

have sat there with righteous indignation about the five percent.

You can write a check to Clara (Myers) anytime you wish with that

five percent and give it back to the city if you think you should

not have had it. It’s very simple, you never had a gun to your head

to make you take that five percent.”

Myers is the city’s financial director.

Simpson said because of city ordinance she had

no choice but to accept the pay, as mandated by state law.

“As I understand, I was not allowed not to

take the five percent increase because it was mandated by the last

council,” she said.

She said Kennon, if he is elected and got the

raise would also, by state law, have to accept the pay

increase.

“There’s no requirement for him to take it to

the bank,” Kennon said.

Next, Kennon addressed Holk, saying at his

salary he was making $50 an hour for five hours a week of work

while the mayor was making $15 for 40 hours.

To fix the disparity, Kennon told Holk, “you

need to write a check to Clara (Myers) for $9,300 a year out of

your salary,” Kennon said. “That way you’ll be on the same $15 an

hour.

“You essentially make four times more than the

mayor. I’m having a hard time understanding how your public service

is more important than the mayor’s public service.”

Holk said he serves on the council to be in

public service to help the city and citizens.

“The one nice thing about public service is

you get to come up here and sign up or you get to stay at home and

not sign up," Holk said. "If it’s

about the money, it’s a sad thing. Don’t advertise that you’re

going to be a full-time mayor if you’re going to complain about the

time you have to put in."