Butler City Council has proposed a change in the compensation for elected officials beginning in 2022.

Council approved the first reading of an amendment to the ordinance that currently sets annual compensation at $10,000 for the mayor, $2,500 for council members and the controller, and $18,000 for the treasurer.

The amendment, which council approved Feb. 11, would not change the mayor's pay, but would increase pay for council and the controller to $5,000, reduce the treasurer's pay to $5,000 and eliminate the option for all of the elected officials to receive health insurance through the city.

Elected officials who chose not to accept the health insurance receive money instead. Compensation for those who turn down the insurance totals just under $5,000, said Councilman Jeff Smith.

“It's a wash for council and the controller,” Smith said.

The treasurer used to serve, but no longer does, as the treasurer for the parking authority, which no longer exists, and the Parks, Recreation, Grounds and Facilities Authority, he said.

The insurance, depending on the plan selected, could cost the city more than $5,000, he added.

“This eliminates that. It makes it more clear on how we're being paid,” Smith said.

Two seats on council, the mayor's office and the controller's office are open in this year's election. The winners, who will take office in January 2022, will be affected by the amendment if council adopts it. The treasurer's position is open in the 2023 election.

Final approval of the amendment will be considered at a future council meeting.

Park issues

Council is applying to the county for a grant to improve the basketball courts at Father Marinaro and R5itts parks.

Council agreed to comply with the requirements of the annual Butler County Parks Renovation Program to apply for $7,500 that includes the city contributing an additional $2,500 to replace the backboards at Ritts Park and the posts and backboards at Father Marinaro Park.

The existing wooden backboards will be replaced with metal backboards for the safety of park users, Smith said.

He said a wooden backboard fell last summer at the Institute Hill playground and was replaced with a metal board.

The city obtained a grant of the same amount last year and used it for improvements at Memorial and Ritts parks, he added.

Other business

In addition, council approved the purchase of a hydraulic salt spreader for the streets department for $4,300 and a garage door for the streets department building for $3,675.

Council also accepted the resignation of firefighter Bradley Sabolcik, who accepted a job as a firefighter in the Washington, D.C., area after working a year and half for the city.