The Airway Heights City Council took further steps to limit Mayor Patrick Rushing’s duties and representation on local boards.
At Monday’s study session, council agreed to move forward several items to the Aug. 17 legislative meeting, including actions that remove Rushing as the city’s representative on the Growth Management Steering Committee, West Plains Chamber of Commerce and Emergency Services Communication Policy Board. Rushing was previously the secretary on the WPCC’s executive board of directors. Stacey Morgan Foster, Eastern Washington University vice president for student affairs, took over his position.
These sanctions coincide with a resolution council passed at its July 22 meeting. The resolution declared that council has no confidence in Rushing to perform his duties as mayor and directed staff to review the mayor’s position on boards and commissions, and the process to remove him from those groups.
At its Aug. 3 meeting, council voted to remove Rushing as the city’s representative on the Spokane Regional Transportation Council and Spokane Transit Authority Board. Councilman Steve Lawrence took over Rushing’s position on the STA board.
“Staff has identified times for meetings and council members can look at what boards they would like to serve on,” City Manager Albert Tripp said.
The Association of Northeast Mayors will appoint a representative for the Emergency Services Communication Policy Board vacancy. Council members will select Rushing’s replacement on the other committees at a later date.
Tripp presented resolutions that limit the mayor’s abilities. One states the mayor cannot make any written or oral statements regarding the city without receiving advanced approval from the Community and Economic Development subcommittee. The other removes his ability to appoint members to various committees.
He also presented two options regarding salary adjustments for elected officials. One option is to adjust the mayor’s salary. The other establishes a salary committee that will look at compensation for elected officials. At the July 20 meeting, council asked Rushing to forfeit his $2,000 a month salary for the remainder of his term. He refused to do so.
Deputy Mayor Kevin Richey explained that the reason for the salary raise for elected officials, which took effect in 2009, was to encourage qualified people to run for office. In 2009, the mayor’s salary went from $500 to $2,000 a month, the deputy mayor from $300 to $750 and council members $300 to $500. Richey also suggested reducing the mayor’s salary to $1,000 a month.
“We could put that other $1,000 toward travel expenses that all council members can use for activities outside of the city,” he said.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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