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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor 

CHELSEA – The Chelsea City Council discussed changing its form of government and making amendments to the salary of its future mayor and city council members during a work session on Wednesday, June 12.

During the session, council members and the mayor discussed changing the city’s form of government to meet with Alabama code after the growth the city has seen.

After cities in Alabama surpass a population of 12,000, the mayor no longer sits on the council or has voting power on the council and instead has veto power.

“The major difference is the mayor has veto power over an ordinance that is actually passed by the Council (and) would no longer actually vote,” City Attorney Mark Boardman said.

Most of Chelsea’s surrounding municipalities in Shelby County have already moved on to this form of Government, including Alabaster, Pelham and Helena. The city of Calera has also recently reached the population threshold and is undergoing similar discussions and proceedings as Chelsea.

“This is what bigger cities do,” Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said. “It’s a natural progression.”

If passed, the proposed ordinance to change Chelsea’s form of government would go into effect following the 2025 election. The change to the city’s form of government would automatically go into effect if the Council chose not take any action but the Council is taking a proactive approach to prepare.

“We’re staying ahead of it so people can understand what their city government will look like after the next election,” Councilmember Scott Weygand said.

A first reading for the proposed ordinance to change Chelsea’s form of government will take place during the Chelsea City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 18.

During the meeting, the mayor and council members also discussed a proposed ordinance to amend the salary of elected officials which would go into effect following the 2025 election.

“This change is being considered due to the change in government style that the city is going through,” Weygand said.

The proposed ordinance would reduce the mayor’s package from $81,000 to $66,000 annually. Additionally, the pay for city council members would increase from $600 per month to $1,000 per month with the mayor pro tempore increasing from $700 to $1,250.

“So, the challenge I think that we face is, we don’t want the mayor’s salary being so low that good people won’t run, but it doesn’t need to be about the money,” Councilmember Christopher Grace said. “It’s not about anybody that’s sitting in this room because we don’t know who the next council is going to be or who the next mayor is going to be. But I do think that there will be a lot of responsibility that will be taken on by the council president.”

During the meeting, Councilmember Arthur Fisher shared his thoughts on the proposed salary changes.

“Regardless of if it’s government or not, I think you should get paid for the amount of work that you do,” Fisher said. “If you are doing a lot of work, then I think that should reflect in the salary.”

During the discussion, Picklesimer expressed his displeasure with the proposed decrease in pay for Chelsea’s mayor.

“I know how full time my job is,” he said. “I don’t like the fact this lowers the salary for the mayor’s job simply because he will no longer be hitting the gavel for 30 minutes twice a month. City Council makes up a very small portion of my job.”

The first reading for the proposed ordinance to amend the salary for elected officials will take place during the next Chelsea City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 18.