FAIRHOPE, Ala. - Staff report

After threatening to cut the mayor’s $60,000 annual salary in half Monday, the Fairhope City Council decided to delay a vote on the measure until its next regular meeting June 27. Council President Lonnie Mixon said state law requires that salaries and benefits of incoming elected officials must be established at least six months prior to an election, the next of which is in 2012.

Mixon said the main reason for the vote was to change the salary during the budget planning process and during a time when possible candidates may be preparing to run for office, but the decrease would also reflect the mayor’s diminished capacity since the hiring of City Administrator Gregg Mims last year. Mims is paid a salary of $110,000 annually.

Council member’s pay will remain the same according to the amendment, with each being compensated $7,200 per year and the council president receiving an additional $1,200.

Mixon said the mayor’s new salary would be in line with similar-sized municipalities in the state which have either a city manager or city administrator.

Council member Dan Stankowski said the salary shouldn’t be an incentive to attract an honest public servant. “You’re either going to serve or you’re not going to serve,” he said. “No one makes anyone run for office. If you don’t like the office, if you don’t like the salary, if you don’t like the perks, don’t run. It’s as simple as that.”

Council member Debbie Quinn said the city administrator position takes a lot of pressure off of the mayor in day-to-day business and that should be reflected in compensation. State law also does not require elected officials to work full-time.

In other council business:

• A motion to approve an application for a Lounge Liquor License at 9115 U.S. Hwy 98 was carried until the next regular council meeting June 27. Fairhope Chief of Police Dr. Bill Press did not support the license.

• A resolution was passed to encourage the state legislature to designate a portion of U.S. Highway 98 “Via Bellator,” which is Latin for Warrior’s Way. Honor Flight South Alabama veterans were in attendance and Dr. Barry Booth, speaking on their behalf, said the designation would be unique to Fairhope.

• A resolution was passed to award a bid to Gulf City Body & Trailer Works, Inc. for a backhoe trailer for the Water Department.