Council reduced the mayor's 2016 salary to $40,000 from the current $70,000.
Stephen "Rogie" Ellis knew he was going to take a pay cut next year when he takes office as Phillipsburg's mayor.
But just how much, he said, came as a surprise.
As a regional superintendent with the state park service, Ellis will make $110,979 this year, according to a state database. When he takes the oath of office in January, the mayor-elect said he expected his salary would be comparable to, if slightly reduced from, current Mayor Harry Wyant Jr.'s $70,783.
Phillipsburg Town Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance setting a number of salaries for 2016, including significantly reducing the mayor's pay to $40,000.
Some council members said the measure returns the mayor's salary to a base level after Wyant's increased over four terms beginning in 1999.
"We've got a fresh mayor coming in," said Councilman Randy Piazza. "As far as experience goes, he's a new mayor."
Councilman J.P. Stettner -- who is leaving office at month's end after not running for re-election -- said he initially missed the line on the mayor's salary when he approved the ordinance Tuesday, and wants it readdressed.
On Wednesday, Stettner said he plans to ask council at its next meeting to table the measure until the new council can address it in January. An ordinance typically takes effect 20 days after its passage.
Ellis and two other Democrats, Mark Lutz and Joshua Davis, won November's election, defeating Republicans Wyant, Council President John Lynn and Lynn's running mate Robert Fulper, meaning Democrats will take over the council majority.
Ellis has been in talks with town officials leading up to the transition of power in January, but on Wednesday said the $30,000 salary reduction caught him unaware -- though Piazza said Ellis was present at the meeting when the ordinance came up for its first reading.
"It was a surprise mostly," Ellis said of Tuesday's approval. "That caught me off guard."
Phillipsburg begins transition to new mayor
It's not about the amount, he said. With his retirement from the park service pending after 35 years, Ellis said his pension combined with the new mayor's salary should keep him about level financially.
"That's not why I ran for office," he said.
Ellis said he was concerned about how council arrived at the figure.
"If there's criteria that's fine," said Ellis. "But if it's arbitrary or capricious ... that doesn't make sense."
Both Piazza and Councilman Bernie Fey Jr. said Wyant's starting salary as mayor was $35,000, which increased through longevity, cost-of-living adjustments and union raises -- unaffiliated employees typically get raises equal to those in the contracts negotiated by labor unions. The position also carries a pension and other benefits.
"We looked back at what the current mayor started at and we readjusted it from there," Fey said of the salary change.
Wyant and Lynn did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
The ordinance setting 2016 salaries left council's pay steady from the previous year -- the council president will make $3,570 while the other council members will earn $3,060.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
