Council debate spotlights transparency of pay decisions for constitutional officers; personnel committee moves to executive session

The Legislative Council’s personnel report listed approved step increases for the secretary of the Senate, clerk of the House, several constitutional officers and nonpartisan office directors. That action prompted extended discussion about whether final approval of raises for constitutional officers should take place in executive session or be handled publicly.

Senator Stewart said he was not convinced the council "should even have a role in setting those grades and steps" and suggested either delegating pay matters to the executive branch or adopting an automatic, position‑based step schedule to avoid politicized decisions. "What doesn't make sense to me is having the super political positions ... caught in this sort of in between where depending on who shows up at a personnel committee determines whether somebody's gonna get a raise," Stewart said.

Other members, including Senator Dusan, cautioned about discussing confidential personnel matters taken up in executive session and argued for protecting private employee information while also exploring whether statutory procedures need revision. The chair explained that current practice stems from statutory timing and organizational rules for the council and that salaries of constitutional officers are public records even if certain deliberations occur in executive session.

After discussion the council prepared to move into executive session for a separate security matter. Citing Maine Revised Statutes Title 1, section 405(6) and Title 1, section 402(3)(f)(1), President Daughtry moved that "the legislative council enter into an executive session for the purpose of receiving information related to security plans;" the motion was seconded and queued for action.

Next steps: The council will proceed to executive session on security matters and noted that the broader question of transparency for constitutional officer pay‑setting could be revisited when council rules are next considered.