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Fayetteville judge, solicitor seek pay hikes

Could affect city’s FY2005 budget

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayetteville’s municipal court judge and solicitor have requested pay increases for the upcoming fiscal year that have not yet been calculated into the city’s budget.

Municipal Court Judge Mike Martin is asking for the city to pay one-half of the cost of his insurance package, which would equate to another $300 per month. Martin receives an $1,800 a month retainer and $300 for each court session, which he notes is the same compensation he agreed to when he took over the role in 2000.

City Solicitor Warren A. Sellers is asking for an increase in his rate per court session to $375 from $300 and an increase in the rate for out-of-court work to $100 per hour from $85 per hour.

In a memo to City Manager Joe Morton, Martin said he makes himself available daily to hear jail cases “rather than have inmates sit in jail overnight and thus costing the taxpayers extra money.” Martin also noted that Riverdale pays $450 per court session and Forest Park pays $425 per court session.

Sellars, who is also an attorney in private practice, noted in a letter to Morton that he turns down cases that have conflicting court dates and the volume of work has increased. He also noted that his current fees haven’t changed since June 2001.

At a presentation on the city’s budget last week, city finance director Lynn Robinson said more information on the requests would be available at a later date. The earliest council could adopt the budget would be at its July 15 meeting since its July 1 meeting has been cancelled.