Riverton’s City Council members seemed to agree on at least two things Tuesday night: first, that newly-inaugurated Mayor Trent Staggs was being shortchanged. And second, that they felt uncomfortable renegotiating his salary.
“I hate having this whole conversation about what our pay is,” said Councilman Sheldon Stewart.
“It’s uncomfortable,” agreed newly-elected Councilwoman Tish Buroker later on. “Here I am brand new doing this, so I’d like to get it over.”
Riverton’s mayor hasn’t received a pay increase since 2006. That’s because former Mayor Bill Applegarth was “adamant” about not having a raise, according to Councilman Brent Johnson — a decision that put the new council in a “very awkward position” Tuesday night as it unanimously approved a 35 percent pay increase for Staggs.