Princeton City Council took action Monday night to amend an ordinance to change the mayor’s position from a part-time to a full-time, executive position and established an annual salary for the full-time position.
Councilwoman Shelia Gates sponsored the ordinance to amend the mayor’s position from part-time to full-time upon the election of the next mayor. She said they have been fortunate that Mayor Kota Young took the position on a part-time basis and made it into a full-time position since he was elected to the seat.
click to download audioCouncilman Brian Conger agreed.
click to download audioGates added that because of Mayor Young the city has the funds to make this a full-time position and she hopes the change will draw interest for someone to run for the seat in November.
click to download audioCouncilman Carl Copeland also agreed and said that with everything Mayor Young has accomplished, it would be better for the city to make the mayor’s position full-time.
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Gates added this is a decision they had to make at Monday’s meeting and the next city council meeting with the general election just months away.
click to download audioCouncilwoman Pat George agreed they needed to take action on the amended ordinance as she thanked Mayor Young for making this a full-time job with minimal pay.
click to download audioCouncilman Jim Joiner also agreed and said the amendment to the ordinance will give someone else an incentive to serve the City of Princeton.
click to download audioGeorge then sponsored an ordinance establishing the annual salary for the full-time mayor position of $42,500 from the current part-time salary of $17,449.
City Council will vote on the second reading of the two ordinances at the next regular meeting on April 18th. If approved, the full-time position and salary would be effective with the election of the next mayor.
Mayor Young announced in January he had filed as a Republican candidate to run for the Caldwell County judge-executive seat after Larry Curling made an announcement in November he would not be seeking another term. Young will face Democrat Phillip Sisk in the November general election.
