BY JESSE BURCHETTE
SALISBURY POST

LANDIS — Residents here are apparently getting a bargain-basement price for elected officials.

Some residents recently raised questions about Mayor Fred Steen and some aldermen getting extra pay for special meetings.

Under a policy set more than two years ago, elected officials in Landis get $25 and $50 for meetings related to town business.

Although Steen and several aldermen have collected on the fee, they are still below the pay level for most municipal officials in Rowan.

Landis and China Grove officials get the smallest amount of money for their time among the group.

Smaller municipalities in Rowan pay their officials two, three and four times as much as Landis or China Grove.

The Landis pay rate was a factor in China Grove’s Board of Aldermen opting to cut their pay. The board whacked the pay almost in half, from $1,750 per year for the mayor to $950. Aldermen had been getting $1,500, but now get $720.

Landis hasn’t raised the pay for elected officials but once in 20 years, according to Joann Spears, the town’s bookkeeper.

In June 1998, during a budget session, the board decided to add a special meeting fee.

The resolution adopted on June 25, 1998, took note of the fact that Landis aldermen are paid less than surrounding towns as well as the average pay rate for aldermen and mayors in towns of similar size across the state.

They adopted a policy of paying each board member and mayor $25 for each meeting they attend that is related to the town’s business. If the meetings go for four hours or more, the reimbursement is $50 per meeting.

A variety of meetings were specified as examples including special meetings of the board, transportation panels, the Rowan Municipal Association, the town’s planning board, Chamber of Commerce sessions and ElectriCities meetings.

Records from the town’s finance department show that the mayor and aldermen have been paid up to $375 for a three-month period.

Steen received $375 for a period covering April 1 through June 30, 1999. It included six special board meetings, three Chamber meetings, and other meetings dealing with transportation and deregulation of electricity.

For the most part, Steen and the aldermen have been paid lesser amounts. Steen received $175 for meetings from April-June this year.

On a reimbursement form submitted to the town, Steen noted that he had attended at least eight other meetings on behalf of the town during that period and did not ask for the $25 fee.

Mayor Pro Tem Gary Beaver has collected up to $150 for meetings during a three-month period.

Alderman Craig Sloop billed and was paid $275 for 11 special meetings between June and Dec. 30 last year.

Alderman Dennis Brown received $250 for eight special meetings between April 1 through Sept. 15 last year. In addition, he was paid $50 for two meetings in Raleigh.

Overall, last fiscal year Steen was paid $625 for special meetings, an average of just over $50 a month. Other totals ranged from $270 received by Dennis Brown to $525 paid to Craig Sloop.

Since July 1, Steen has received $175 and Gary Beaver has received $175.

Alderman William Parks Beaver hasn’t received any pay for special meetings.

William Beaver has made it clear he doesn’t want to be paid for the special meetings and contends he never realized they would be paid to go to dinners and lunches.

He contends that when folks run for office they are offering themselves to provide public service, not expecting to be paid.

People who run for offices can expect to be at one or two meetings or events a month.

Aldermen and mayors often have two events or more a week. In some cases, they could attend an event daily.

Steen said Friday that the decision to add the special fee came after months of discussion. Aldermen had spent long hours dealing with a lawsuit against the town.

He pointed out that often he and aldermen have to take off from their jobs, using vacation time or not get paid for the time off.

Steen said elected municipal jobs shouldn’t be primarily for the retired or wealthy.

Rather than adjust the pay to the state average for a similar size town, the board opted to set a fee that would pay aldermen as they attended to the town’s business or represented it.

Rockwell also has a provision to pay the mayor and each alderman $100 for a special meeting.

But officials say Rockwell doesn’t hold special meetings, and no one has ever collected.

Until this year China Grove had a $10 fee for special board meetings, but it was eliminated.

All towns offer expenses, including costs of food, mileage or lodging assorted with trips or events connected to the job.

For example, Landis paid $878 for Steen to attend the annual meeting of ElectriCities, including registration fee, lodging, meals and mileage.

China Grove aldermen often joke about their expense accounts, which are almost non-existent.

In his three years in office, Mayor Joseph Sloop has received about $50 in expense reimbursement. That was for a trip to Raleigh, and a series of meetings.