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Questions continue to rise regarding the salary of Melville's mayor
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News 10 previously spoke to Melville Mayor Pro-Tem, Natasha Oliney, who said the council initially approved a pay raise for the mayor's office from $11,000 to $16,000.
MELVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- At this month's town council meeting in Melville, both residents and council members were hoping for answers as to why Mayor Caretta Robertson has drastically increased her salary in office. However, following the meeting, News 10 did catch up with one resident who said people are still left with more questions than they are answers.
News 10 previously spoke to Melville Mayor Pro-Tem, Natasha Oliney, who said the council initially approved a pay raise for the mayor's office from $11,000 to $16,000.
However, they were surprised to see the mayor's salary for 2023 actually reached near $30,000 and had a lack of a consistent pay schedule.
After the council voiced their concerns, it was announced the topic would be discussed at the town meeting on July 9.
As the meeting took place, Melville resident Clara Goudeaus said she and others in attendance were disappointed to find out the town's attorney would be answering the question by simply saying there is no ordinance in place specifying the salary for the mayor's office.
An ordinance Robertson previously told News 10 they are working to introduce and adopt.
Speaking with town alderwoman Linda Haynes, she said the financial state of the town leaves the council continuing to ask why a raise is necessary.
"This is not time for a raise for us," Melville Alderman Linda Haynes said. "We're not there for the money. We're there to help the citizens and as strapped for money as Melville is, we didn't think anybody was ready for a raise. We are just trying to work to make ends meet."
As the meeting ended, Haynes said Robertson claims an auditor will be coming to Melville next month to show her pay increase is not harming the town.
Haynes said the biggest goal for the council as next month approaches is simply to see more transparency from the mayor's office.
"So my thing is, if the hardship was going to be there next month and he should have given her some information that she could have given to everybody there and say, okay, this is what happened, and it's cleared," Haynes said.
News 10 has reached out to Mayor Robertson's office, but has not received a comment regarding the meeting as of news time.