Zeeland commission keeps mayor's per diem cap, ties future raises to city employee COLA

Zeeland 'The Local Officers Compensation Commission appointed Commissioner John Query as chair and voted to keep the mayor's existing per diem cap and to tie future annual pay increases for elected officials to the city employee cost-of-living adjustment. The meeting took place Sept. 25, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall main floor conference room.

Kristi DeVerney, Chief Interim Deputy Clerk, opened the meeting and recommended the commission elect a chair as its first order of business. Commissioner Thomas Parker moved and Commissioner Kevin Streeter supported appointing Commissioner John Query as chair; the motion carried with all voting aye.

The commission approved the minutes of the Sept. 28, 2023 meeting on a motion by Commissioner John Query, supported by Commissioner Thomas Parker. All voting aye.

Commissioners then reviewed the mayor's per diem schedule, which the minutes record as $110 for a full day, $55 for a half day, and a $3,000 annual cap. Members noted the prior suggestion, made at the Sept. 28, 2023 meeting, to remove the $3,000 cap but ultimately decided to retain it. Commissioner Thomas Parker moved, with support from Commissioner Mary Bouwens, to keep the $3,000 annual maximum and leave the mayor's annual salary unchanged; the motion passed unanimously.

On compensation policy, Commissioner Kevin Streeter moved, supported by Commissioner Thomas Parker, that annual pay increases for the mayor, the mayor pro tem and councilmembers be implemented in conjunction with the city employees' COLA each year. The commission also voted to keep per-meeting pay at $50. That motion carried with all voting aye.

The minutes note that, under the Zeeland City Code, changes in compensation take effect 30 days after the commission's filing with the city clerk unless rejected by the Zeeland City Council; if rejected, existing salaries and per diems would remain in place. The commission adjourned at 4:21 p.m. until its 2027 session.