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ALPENA — A new committee could be formed in Alpena Township that would determine the salaries of elected officials.

The proposed Compensation Committee would make a recommendation on future wages for the Board of Trustees beginning in the 2024-25 budget year.

Currently, the trustees determine their own salaries and the board in March approved raises for themselves for this fiscal year, township meeting minutes and the budget show.

At tonight’s trustee meeting, the board may vote on an ordinance that would establish a five-member committee consisting of registered voters from the township that would help set wages for the at-large trustees, supervisor, clerk, and treasurer.

The members of the committee would be appointed by Supervisor Nathan Skibbe, but final appointments would be approved by the full board.

A message was left for Skibbe seeking comment on the proposed committee and ordinance.

Trustee Russ Rhynard said the idea of having a compensation committee consisting of registered voters determining compensation is a good thing. He said the current raises were proposed after a review of what other townships pay elected officials, but, still, he said, determining your own salary does not sit well with him.

“It’s very uncomfortable, at least for me, to come up with wages on our own, and I’m all for having a committee help in the process,” he said. “They research and explore what they need to and then make a recommendation and justify it to the board. That way, it doesn’t look like we are feathering our open nest, so to speak.”

Although the committee would offer a salary recommendation, the board could also take action into its own hands.

The board could overrule the committee’s compensation recommendation with a two-thirds vote.

The committee could meet up to 15 times, during each odd-numbered year, to hash out what fair pay is and a recommendation would be submitted to the township no later than 45 days from the date of the first meeting.

A majority of the committee would sign off and the wage recommendation for it to be a valid recommendation.

The members of the committee would not receive compensation, but could be reimbursed for individual expenses, if the Board of Trustees voted to do so.

During its March 27 budget hearing, the trustees voted to approve the salaries of elected officials for the current budget year, which runs from April 1 through March 31.

Skibbe is slated to earn $60,000, up from $49,500 last fiscal year, while Clerk Michele Palevich’s pay bumped up from $48,500 annually to $55,000 a year.

Treasurer Laura Ellery-Somers’ salary climbed from $48,500 a year to $52,000.

The other trustees saw their compensation grow to $1,800 a year, from $1,200, while their per diem for each meeting they attend for township business will also increase.

Last fiscal year, Trustees Norm Poli, Steve Lappan, Cash Kroll, and Russ Rhynard earned $100 for a meeting lasting longer than four hours and $60 for a meeting less than that amount of time. Those payments climb to $150 for any meeting lasting longer than four hours and $75 per for those lasting less than four hours.

Skibbe, Palevich, and Somers will be offered the same health insurance coverage provided to township employees and receive an annual health savings account deposit of $1,300 for a single plan or $2,600 for a family plan.

If they choose to accept a cash payment in lieu of health insurance, a monthly payment of $300 per month would be forwarded to them.

The other trustees do not receive health benefits.

Trustee Steve Lappan was the only trustee to vote against the pay hikes, while Rhynard voted against the adoption of the new $1.9 million budget as a whole.

If the proposed ordinance is approved, it would be effective immediately upon its publication.

Today’s meeting is slated to begin at 6 p.m. at the township office building.