The office of mayor in University Park will no longer be an unpaid one as of the May 2012 election, but council members will continue serving their community without compensation.

On Monday, the town council voted 6-1 to grant any mayor elected or appointed as of this spring a $15,000 annual salary, to be distributed on a monthly basis.

The move represents a departure from the longstanding volunteer oversight of University Park but brings the town in line with its neighboring municipalities, all of whom pay their mayors.

"We have a mayor who is mayor and town manager," said Councilman David Brosch (Ward 1). "We're getting a good deal."

Struck from the same resolution was a measure to pay council members $2,500 per year for their service.

"I don't think council members should get anything," said councilman James Gekas (Ward 2).

"It's really an honor to be a council member," he said.

Councilwoman Tracy Toscano (Ward 5) — the lone opposing vote on the resolution — said that if the council was not compensated, the mayor should not be either.

The council also voted narrowly to uphold term limits for the mayor of University Park but amended the charter to raise the ceiling from three terms to four. Each term lasts two years.

Mayor John Tabori was opposed to any term limits for elected officials in University Park and presented the council with extensive research on the subject.

"[Term limits] reduce accountability and I have a real problem with that," said Tabori.

Councilman Len Carey (Ward 4) agreed.

"I believe that term limits limit voter choice," he said.

But their arguments were not enough to sway the majority of the council.

"I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer for this question, but I do believe there is a right or wrong answer for this town," said Councilwoman Jacqueline Bradley Chacon (Ward 2).

The motion to remove term limits for the mayor from the town charter failed in a 3-4 vote. A similar measure to end limits for council members was also rejected.

Both the salary and term limit proposals drew mixed reactions from residents at public hearings held over the past several months.