Shepherdstown officials discuss making mayor's job full time

January 31, 2008|By DAVE McMILLION

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Shepherdstown may be a small town, but there's a lot of thinking going on.

So much so, that town officials have discussed making the mayor's job a full-time paid position or creating some sort of full-time executive position.

Mayor Lance Dom discussed the idea during the Jan. 22 town council meeting.

Dom said he thinks a full-time mayor position or other type of paid position is needed to examine long-range issues.

One of the issues Dom said he has been studying recently is how the town's water rates are structured.

Like other parts of the state, Shepherdstown has a "declining" rate structure, meaning that the more water a customer uses, the lower the rate per gallon.

Dom said he would like to see the town go to an "inclining" water rate structure, meaning a customer would be charged a higher rate the more water that is used.

Dom said some cities such as Seattle and some areas in California use an inclining water rate structure and Dom said he thinks that is a good route to go to promote water conservation.

Dom said those types of issues take long-term planning and he would like to see the mayor's job be made a full-time paid position so the projects can get the attention they need.

Council members discussed whether the town should go to a full-time, paid mayor's position or have some sort of full-time executive position like an aide to handle the duties.

The mayor's job is currently considered part time and pays $2,000 a year. If made full time, perhaps the mayor's salary could be around $35,000, Dom said.

The town could hire a town manager, although that would require changing the town's charter and would be a long process, Dom said.

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