After no one

cared to comment Thursday night on a plan to raise the salaries of the

Fayetteville City Council by $150 a month, the council approved the measure

3-0 with two councilmembers abstaining.

The 30 percent

raise won't go into affect until Jan. 1 of next year. Voting in favor

of the raise were councilmen Walt White, Glenn Brewer and Bill Talley;

abstaining were Larry Dell and Al Hovey-King.

Mayor Ken Steele

said council decided to consider the matter after studying how other city

council members in the metro Atlanta area are compensated. The idea was

"not to be in the lead and not trailing behind" the salaries

of other areas, Steele said.

Currently,

council members are paid $500 a month plus an additional $150 expense

allowance. As mayor, Steele currently receives $800 a month plus $150

for expenses.

Of the nine

governments cited in the salary survey, which included Fayette County

and Peachtree City, the average monthly salary for council members was

$784, with an average expense line item of $101. Salaries for the cities'

mayors averaged out to $1,323 a month plus another $173 in expenses.

After studying

the survey, "The thinking was it was probably appropriate at this

time," Steele said of council's decision.

The council

has not had a pay increase in 10 years, said City Manager Joe Morton.

Steele pointed

out that he and other council members attend a variety of meetings and

workshops on behalf of the city.

"I know

I spend quite a bit of time at meetings," Steele said.

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