Stipend for Planning Commissioners Axed

The Planning Commission is now an all-volunteer panel.

Though expressing reluctance to do so, the City Council voted 3 to 2 this week to cease paying the five commissioners the customary $50 monthly stipend because of a change in state law.

The law, which took effect in July, states that any city official appointed to a fixed term of office is eligible for the state’s medical and retirement benefits.

If commissioners started claiming lifetime benefits, the city could wind up with a tab as large as $11,000 a year, said Larry Temple, director of administrative services.

The law was intended to bring planning commissioners who work full time for large cities into the state retirement system, Temple said. But the wording of the law includes even part-time planners in small cities.

“I don’t think we have done the acid test of going to our legislators and discussing this with them,” said Councilman Don R. Griffin, who joined Councilman Arthur C. Brown in voting against the move.

“I think we owe our commissioners, who have served us so well, the effort to modify the legislation,” he said.

Planning commissioners will still be compensated for mileage, meals and fees for professional conferences.

The commissioners themselves, however, said that losing the stipend is not significant.

“Frankly, I think that service on any city commission ought to be motivated by a desire to service the city,” Commissioner Robert J. Niccum said. “The $50 wasn’t doing us a heck of a lot of good anyway.”

The stipend cutoff will begin in March.