University Park's Unpaid Mayor and Council May Finally Get Paid

Looks like University Park is considering changing their volunteer council and mayor positions to paid positions.

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"I’ve watched over the last several years the amount of time mayors spend in meetings. Our mayor is the only person [at the meetings] not on the clock,” Freeman said then.

For 75 years, the town has been managed by volunteers, who spend hours at meetings and represent the town at various town and county-wide events, without pay.  Although the town staff – like the treasurer, attorney, clerks, and public works employees are paid, mayor and council never receive any money for their time.

Freeman said there has been an option for mayors to receive a stipend, but many have refused.

In Riverdale Park, the mayor earns $7,200 a year, while the council members receive $3,600 a year for their time. The mayor is paid $6,415 and council members are paid $4,277 yearly in Hyattsville.  While in College Park, the mayor is paid $7,500 and council is paid $5,000.

Mayor John Tabori said he spends well over 40 hours a week working as the mayor.  In the past, mayoral candidates are retired, stay-at-home parents or have a business out of their home.

“We had an individual who tried to be mayor with a full-time job, from 1992 to 1994, but he quit after two years (one term), didn’t run again,” he said. “It devastated his health — it was too much pressure.”

Previous mayors have acted as the CEO of the town, the public works director and the town administrator. When Tabori came on as mayor, he hired a public works director.

“To hold a job, be the mayor and meet your obligations at home – for a spouse, children or whatever, it gets to be beyond belief,” he said.  “You have to look at it as — are you giving your mayor and council members just enough [money] so they can get someone to clean the house, babysit the kids [while they work]. “

A mayor can be elected to three terms for a total of six years. That means a mayor could work for 12,480 hours (in three terms) and not get paid a penny.

Although council has begun the discussion about this change, Tabori said, it may not be applicable to his last year of office. Currently, the town attorney is looking over the matter.