WEIRTON — The next mayor and city council in Weirton may be getting a bump in pay, thanks to a proposal now before the current council.

During Tuesday’s, members of Weirton Council voted unanimously on the first readings of two ordinances, establishing new salaries for the mayor and city council.

Under the proposals, which must pass a second reading, Weirton’s mayor would receive an annual salary of $12,760, as well as an additional $75 for each informational workshop and special council meeting attended. The pay for special meetings and workshops will not exceed $1,800 a year.

Members of council meanwhile, if the ordinances pass, would receive a pay of $8,700 per year, along with the $75 per workshop and special meeting attended up to $1,800 per year.

While no discussion on the proposal was held Tuesday night, officials did explain some of the reasoning behind the raises last week

“It’s basically $100 a month,” explained City Manager Mike Adams during the Nov. 7 city Finance Committee meeting.

Adams said he had made comparisons with other municipalities in West Virginia, coming up with the proposal by looking at existing salaries for the offices and populations.

“I looked at several different cities,” Adams said, noting Wheeling in particular. “It’s hard to go apples to apples.”

Currently, the mayor receives a pay of $11,000 per year, with council members receiving $7,500 per year.

These rates were established through a vote in November 2018, and went into effect July 1, 2019. According to previous reports, prior to that, the salary of Weirton’s mayor and council had last been increased in 1991.

The proposed rates, if passed, would become effective Jan. 1, the day the new municipal administration takes office.

Under the terms of West Virginia Code 8-5-12, which governs the compensation of officers and employees, “Notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary, the governing body of every municipality shall by ordinance fix or cause to be fixed the salary or compensation of every municipal officer and employee: Provided, that the salary of any officer shall not be increased or diminished during his or her term.”

Councilmembers Tim Connell, Chris Jonczak and Enzo Fracasso sponsored ordinances.