Should Geneva dock pay of MIA officials?

It really wasn't supposed to be this difficult.

Geneva aldermen spent another 40 minutes this week discussing whether to dock the pay for aldermen who miss a city council meeting. This, from a council that often wraps up business in less than 30 minutes, from the opening Pledge of Allegiance to the community-oriented announcements at the end.

It's the third time this fall they've debated the issue, with aldermen divided.

Some believe it sets a good example for the rest of the city's appointed committees and commissions, which have had trouble reaching quorums. Ald. Bob Piper, who proposed the idea, said he values the give-and-take in the discussion of issues that takes place in a council meeting, and that as legislators, voting is a big part of the job.

"To be effective, you do have to be in this room," he said.

Others disagree, saying just because they aren't at a meeting doesn't mean they aren't representing their constituents well, noting that they devote much time to studying issues, consulting with city staff, and working to solve individual residents' problems. Ald. William Barclay said he has taken off time from work to tend to city business.

"All that travel, all those phone calls, are for nothing if you aren't here," Piper said.

Ald. Ray Pawlak proposed they stop being paid altogether. "Some of these (meetings) take six minutes, and we are going to take paychecks for that?" he said, noting council members jokingly offer to bet on the length of meetings.

Geneva aldermen are paid $150 a month. There are two city council meetings a month and two committee of the whole meetings. One proposal would pay aldermen $75 for each of those meetings, and would limited them to two paid absences per year. (Aldermen can attend meetings via telephone, if they are ill or are out of town on city or work-related business.)

Aldermen have grown weary of the discussion. The matter will be brought to their attention again at the Dec. 8 city council meeting.