By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Top photo, from left: Jacquelyn Long Thomas, Jimmy Harris, President Michael Gay, City Clerk Lori Davis, Justin Jones and Chris Bath.
At Tuesday night’s Millbrook Council meeting, Ordinance 25-01, sponsored by Ward 1 Councilwoman Jacquelyn Long Thomas, would have increased salaries for all council members, the council president and Mayor Al Kelley. However, the ordinance did not pass.
The ordinance reads, “Amending the City of Millbrook Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2. Administration Section 2-31. Salary of Mayor and Councilmembers. First Reading. Sponsored by Councilmember Thomas.”
“I have pondered over this for quite some time after talking to several people,” Thomas said in the work session of the council prior to the regular meeting. I do think we are deserving, or whoever comes into term next time, that after 27 years it is long overdue for an increase. The time, the cost of living has increased significantly. Years ago, Millbrook did not have the population that it does now.”
Thomas said that in comparison to other cities, the average pay for a council member is around $1,500 per month. Currently, the pay for Millbrook Council members is $600 per month, council president $900 per month, and $1,500 a month for mayor.
She proposed raising the salary of a council member to $1,200 per month, $1,500 a month for council president, and $2,100 for mayor.
“I just think it is time,” Thomas said. “The demands, the responsibilities of serving as a council member has changed. Twenty-seven years is a long time without acknowledging the work, the job that we do as council people. I just think it is time with the increase in population, and everything has changed. The demands are different and to just help Millbrook to remain competitive in attracting dedicated people who are going to serve in these leadership roles. I think it is well deserved and past time.”
In the regular meeting when it came time for a vote on Thomas’ ordinance, Thomas voted to approve, but there was not a second. A second is required for a vote to move forward on the ordinance. With none of the other four council members adding a second, the motion died for lack of a second.
For an ordinance to pass regarding increase of salaries for council members, council president or the mayor, it must be approved by the end of February as this is an election year for the Millbrook Council. Qualifying for Millbrook Municipal elections opens June 14 and closes June 26 of this year. The election will be held August 25, 2025.
In her report after the vote, Thomas explained she feels ther is a real need to increase council members’ pay.
“I just wanted to go on the record, I sponsored (the ordinance) to amend the salary code of ordinances for the members of the council and the mayor. I just want to say, 27 years guys, that is a mighty long time. And a lot is happening in the city. The population has quadrupled. We have increased sales taxes and whatever. So, all the growth and the way the city is thriving, to me it just demands, it is just time for increased compensation for our servants. This is a work of heart, and I am proud of the work I do. But I think we do deserve a competitive salary. If you look across the board for municipalities that are our size, the average pay is about $1,500. I just think it is great to be comparable to cities our size. I just want to say, I am proud of the work I do here. It is a $43,000 addition (combined) to the (council, president and mayor’s) salaries just for the pay increase I asked for. I think that is a small fee to pay for the time, effort and commitment that we have and that we put into the city for the work we do.”
Chris Bath, Councilman for Ward 5, explained why he was not in favor of a salary increase.
“A raise sounds great. I have been on the council now for a couple of years. Being on planning and zoning, I have some background on the departments. I know what they all need. They need money for funding for what they do, or even a raise for employees. All of us on the council have jobs and income. We are elected to do these jobs as a public service. I think it is bad timing right now. I personally feel comfortable that the other departments need to be taken care of at this time. We have to keep those departments going.”
Mayor Al Kelley did not have a vote on the matter but told the EAN he was not in favor of raising salaries for himself or the council at this time.
“For me, it not about the money,” Mayor Kelley said. “I do it for the love of your city, and work to make Millbrook better. I didn’t want my salary increased.”
