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City department heads have thought up ways to save money by cutting their own pay and that of their employees. Now, City Attorney Scott Thomas is asking his bosses to give up some of their salaries.

"Better or worse it is my responsibility," Thomas said when asked today if it was his idea.

Thomas passed out an ordinance at last week's council meeting that, if approved by the council, would allow council members and the mayor to decline all or a portion of their salaries.

He asked for a head nod from council members if they wanted to see it on a future council agenda. Asked today if he got the nod, Thomas said: "That is what I interpreted it as."

He said the ordinance will be on the next council meeting agenda, that's Oct. 22.

The ordinance redirects the salary money to buy books for the library. Last week, Thomas said perhaps the Burlington Library Foundation would match the donated salaries dollar-for-dollar.

Under city code, the mayor made $1,821.33 a month as of Jan. 2006 plus any cost of living bumps received by non-union employees since then. First-term council members make $500 per month, and re-elected council members make $800 per month.

This is Thomas' draft ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO.

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON

WHEREAS, Burlington Municipal Code Section 2.56.040 establishes the salaries to be paid to Burlington City Council members; and

WHEREAS, Council members may wish to decline or waive the salary established by ordinance; Now, Therefore,

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURLINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION I. New Section. Burlington Municipal Code is hereby amended by the addition of a new section 2.56.050, which section shall read as follows:

2.56.050 Councilmember and mayor waiver and election not to receive compensation. A councilmember or the mayor may voluntarily waive and elect not to be paid all or any portion of the salaries set forth in BMC 2.56.030 or 2.56.040, as applicable, during their term of office. Notice of waiver and election must be:

A. In writing and delivered to the finance director prior to the effective date; and

B. Signed by the councilmember and their spouse, if married, as required by RCW 49.48.100. Signature(s) shall be before a notary public.

The waiver shall be effective for all salary earned following the effective date and continue in effect until withdrawn by a writing signed by the councilmember or their spouse delivered to the finance director. It shall be presumed that salaries or portions of salaries that are declined or waived pursuant to this section shall be used by the City for reading materials purchases by and for the City Library, provided that this presumption may be rebutted by any council member or the mayor directing in writing that his or her waived salary be utilized for a different City purpose.

SECTION II. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published in the City's official newspaper, and shall take effect five (5) days after passage and the publication of the ordinance or a summary thereof consisting of the title.

SECTION III. Severabilty. If any sentence, clause, phrase or provision of this ordinance is ultimately invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidation shall not effect any other sentence, clause, phrase or provision hereof.

INTRODUCED AND PASSED by the City Council of Burlington and approved by the Mayor this ____ day of _________________, 2009.