Georgetown City Council approved May 12 the second reading to amend compensation for City Council and the mayor to amounts recommended by the Council Compensation Committee.

The committee recommended increasing pay to $800 a month for council members and $1,150 for the mayor.

On April 28 during the first reading of the amendment, Councilwoman Patty Eason, who also served as the committee’s co-chair with Councilman Jerry Hammerlun, moved to increase compensation for City Council members and the mayor to $1,150 a month and $1,250 a month, respectively.

Eason said she wanted to restore pay for council and the mayor to 2007 levels when council members earned $350 a month with up to $800 in reimbursements and the mayor earned $450 a month with up to $800 in reimbursements.

At the April 28 meeting City Council voted 3-3 to approve the increase with Mayor Dale Ross casting the tie-breaking vote in favor of the higher pay level. Councilmen John Hesser, Keith Brainard and Steve Fought voted against the higher amount, and Hammerlun was not in attendance.

Eason and Hammerlun did not seek re-election for the May 9 election, and May 12 was their last meeting.

During the second reading May 12, Hammerlun said he respected Eason’s position and favored the higher amount as well; however, he said he supported the committee’s recommendation.

“The reality was that group did its work,” he said. “I appreciate the need to increase compensation. … [However, I’m] going to support the committee's recommendation.”

One Georgetown resident spoke at the May 12 meeting in favor of the committee’s recommendation.

The final approval passed with a 6-1 vote with Eason voting against.