Takoma Park to strike outdated council-compensation language; staff will return with drafting guidance

City Clerk Carpenter presented a proposed amendment to Takoma Park Code Chapter 2.04 to remove transitional and phased language left over from the 2019 council compensation adjustments. The clerk said the change is intended to make the code clearer and does not itself change the salaries of the mayor or council members.

Council members asked whether the ordinance should reference the more recent council compensation committee’s reconfirmation of salary levels, how to account for Employment Cost Index (ECI) adjustments in the code and whether earlier or separately adopted resolution items—such as subsidies for communications or health-insurance reimbursement details—should be reflected in statute or left to resolution.

"This makes no change; it just removes language that is no longer needed," City Clerk Carpenter said. Several council members said they want the city attorney to recommend whether the code should include a clearer mechanism for posting current compensation figures or otherwise reference the committee’s later reconfirmation.

Staff agreed to consult the city attorney and return with amendments for first reading next week, including options for (a) retaining a 2019 reference, (b) noting the subsequent committee’s reconfirmation, or (c) posting a maintenance provision directing readers to the city website for current compensation figures.