On Tuesday, the Ironhouse Sanitary District Board of Directors agreed to look into a modest pay increase after a short discussion.
The board agreed to look at two separate recommendations of pay starting at $200 per meeting (up to 6 per month) or $250 per meeting (up to 6 per month), which staff will bring back at a future meeting.
Currently, the Ironhouse Board makes $170 per day, up to 6 meetings per month ($1,020) which had not been updated since 2003. With the District not having updated its compensation since 2003, they had the ability to increase it up to $357 per day – up to 6 meetings per month ($2,142).
Director Angela Lowrey shared she had asked staff what would happen if they moved to a monthly stipend versus being paid per day/meeting. She explained that it would not be possible because that was not how special districts were set up. Staff confirmed it would not be allowed.
Director Peter Zirkle believed it wouldn’t be right to offer a monthly stipend because directors do different amounts of work noting some attend more meetings or conferences, but believed the compensation should be changed to a more fair compensation.
“I brought this up a year or so ago to be put on the agenda,” said Zirkle. “The amount of work directors put in now is probably double than what it was even 5-years ago.”
He also said there was little interest in people wanting to be a part of the board and more compensation could see some ratepayers want to be a board member.
He suggested they increase compensation to $250 per day up to 6 meetings.
Director Dawn Morrow said she didn’t want to feel guilty for being compensated for her time.
“I spend a lot of hours going to other meetings that depend on me being a director. Those meetings will also be affected,” explained Morrow. “Some months, I am paying out more than I am being compensated.”
Lowrey pointed out that each month is different and most months they do not max out the number of meetings – noting a 5-minute LAFCO meeting she did not claim. She also shared she takes personal leave or sick leave from her job to be a board member.
“It’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scene,” shared Lowrey. “I was quite surprised to see what other agencies were getting, as high as $400 per day, $280, $265, I didn’t realize it was that much but I was surprised we have not looked at this since 2003.”
Director Chris Lauritzen suggested if they want to attract younger people to the board they needed to make it worth while.
“There are a lot of people who want to be part of the community but cannot afford the time away from their real job to support a city council, special district or whatever, I think some kind of number is appropriate to increase from the $170,” said Lauritzen who suggested up to $200 per meeting calling $250 a bit high.
Director Susan Morgan suggested many meetings are never reported and they are not compensated for, but rather they are part of the job.
“I don’t think it is inappropriate for a small increase. I like the $200, its parallel to Central Sans which is really a small increase. We can review it in a few years,” said Morgan. “I think its appropriate to value peoples time.”
Morgan also called it “rare” for the board to hit 6 meetings per month to max out the pay—saying most of the time they hit 2 or 3 meetings each month.
Zirkle said it had been 22 years since the Board was given a raise and a $30 increase would be 80 or 90 cents per year.
“I think we should look at things realistically, a $30 increase is almost a joke, it seems like we should do something a little more appropriate,” said Zirkle.
The board then did a round table with suggested rate increase where $250 was proposed by Morrow and Zirkle while $200 was suggested by Lauritzen, Lowrey and Morgan
According to the salary survey provided at the meeting:
- $400 per day – West County (Richmond, CA)
- $280 per day – Mt. View Sans (Martinez, CA)
- $265 per day – Oro Loma Sans (San Lorenzo, CA)
- $260 per day – Castro Valley San (Castro Valley, CA)
- $250 per day – Napa Sanitation District (Napa, CA)
- $244.78 per day – Stege San (El Cerrito)
- $212.10 per day – Union Sanitary District (Alameda County)
- $200 per day – Central Sans (Martinez, CA)
- $170 per day – Ironhouse Sanitary District (Oakley, CA)
- $170 per day – Delta Diablo (Pittsburg, CA)
- $168.98 per day – Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District (Fairfield, CA)
Staff will return with an ordinance for the Board’s consideration at a future meeting.
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