Citing a possible &uot;battering&uot; from the media and voters, the Alabaster City Council voted not to raise the salaries of the next mayor and council at its regular Monday night meeting.

However, the council did vote to remove a penalty for not attending meetings.

Councilmember Jim McClain said it would be &uot;untimely for the council to issue raises at this point in time&uot; even though he felt a raise would be &uot;justified.&uot;

McClain said he thought the council would &uot;take a battering from constituents and media.&uot;

McClain presented two proposals for the council to consider.

In one proposal the pay of mayor and council would be based on a tiered system. A first term mayor would be paid $2,700 a month ($32,400 per year), a second term mayor would be paid $2,900 a month ($34,800 per year) and a mayor serving three terms or more would be paid $3,100 per month ($37,200 per year).

Currently the mayor is paid a salary of $30,000 per year.

Also in the first proposal a first term councilmember would be paid $800 per month ($9,600) per year, a second term councilmember would be paid $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year) and a third term councilmember or more would be paid $1,200 per month ($14,400 per year). The council president would be paid an additional $100 per month in each category.

Councilmembers are currently paid $750 per month ($9,000) per year. And the council president is paid an additional $100 per month.

The second option, which was unanimously approved by the council keeps all of the current salaries in place for mayor and council. However, included in the second proposal to keep salaries the same, the council voted to eliminate a $100 per meeting penalty for not attending council meetings.

In answer to a question from resident Ken Murray, council president Rick Walters said a councilmember cannot legally refuse to accept his council pay. And he said other cities do not have the penalty language in their salary ordinance for mayor and council.

Councilmember Adam Moseley also said the penalty is &uot;not legally enforceable.&uot;

While Councilmember Michael Sherwood agreed with not raising pay, he said the penalty was put in place for people who have &uot;less heart&uot; in serving on the council.

While Councilmember Tommy Ryals said the city has new shopping centers coming in that will mean increased revenues, he said he did not feel raises should be approved until the additional revenues come in.

In another matter, the council set a special called meeting for Thursday at 7 p.m. regarding a $4.8 million infrastructure loan. And the council voted with Hines opposed to borrow $150,000 interest free from the Industrial Development Board to acquire the Buck Creek Mill Property.

Moseley said the city will pay $37,500 per year for four years. Walters added the loan will be interest free and that title to the property will be transferred from the Industrial Development Board to the city.

Hines said he has always been opposed to the purchase of the Buck Creek Mill property. He said it is blocked by railroad tracks and the creek rises up to the back of it.

Hines also asked what could be placed at the site that would justify children to cross railroad tracks.

Instead Hines said, &uot;Let someone else buy it, condemn it and tear it down.&uot;

In still other matters the council:

* Approved a flood regulation ordinance to help the city’s insurance rating and help homeowners qualify for federal assistance.

* Reappointed Cathy Bradford to the Park and Recreation Board.

* Set a public hearing for March 1 on an ordinance to restrict public nudity.

* Set a public hearing for Feb. 16 on the annexation of 14 acres at Highway 17.

* Set a public hearing for March 15 on a rezoning request for 3.67 acres on Ninth Avenue from mobile home to community business.

* Set a public hearing for March 15 on a rezoning request for 1.36 acres on Highway 119 from agriculture to community business.

* Set a public hearing for March 15 on a rezoning request for 31.14 acres off Highway 44 from municipal reserve to patio garden homes.

* Set a work session for Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m