LEESBURG – The Leesburg Town Council focused on bonuses and community cooperation during its first meeting of the year Monday. The town council discussed the idea of implementing bonuses in its salary ordinance briefly. As elected officials, an ordinance and a long-standing state statue set the salaries for the council. The statute states that the salary of an elected official cannot be reduced, and if an official needs to be replaced then their replacement would receive the same salary. The council waivered with the idea of having bonuses. “Being an elected official, I can see the benefit of [bonuses] but after thinking on it, I can see where it gives us some breathing room,” council member Doug Jones said. A big issue with bonuses is that income is limited and one person’s good performance sometimes does not always adequately reward them. Another issue is whether or not there will be funds later on to provide the bonus. “In this day and age, we look at reductions in income instead of advances,” Jones said. “It’s hard to take an elected official and pay them a lot more.” The board plans to discuss this issue in the next meeting. Street commissioner Brandon Queen said all of the equipment is running great. The town has been helpful by not parking on the streets when he plows at 3 a.m. and only has a two-hour window to finish. “It is nice that people are cooperating,” Queen said. “I appreciate that a lot.” The council added that cleaning the sidewalks is the responsibility of the property owner. Trash cans also must be removed from the curbside on Saturday mornings. The council acknowledged late and former Clerk-treasurer Jan Carter during its meeting. They said she was a unique individual who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. “She made a positive impact, and it is our loss we no longer have Jan around,” Council President Thomas Moore said. The council reminds the town there is no parking on any street between 3 and 5 a.m. and there is no burning permitted at any time. The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
