Florissant Mayor, City Council Butt Heads Over Judge's Salary

Despite the Florissant City Council unanimously overriding the lowering of the municipal judge’s salary Monday, Mayor Tom Schneider continues to not support the measure.

“I’m still not convinced it’s legal,” he said following the meeting.

Council originally , but and asked councilors to look into the matter further and reconsider their vote.

Mayor Schneider said he’s asked resources, such as the St. Louis County Municipal League and other city attorneys, for a precedent on such an issue, but so far, no one can remember one.

Mayor Schneider said that he doesn’t consider the ordinance legal, as the Florissant municipal judge’s term remains intact, and someone will be filling the term. The states that no changes could be made to the judge’s salary during “the term of office being served at the time the change is adopted.”

That wording is the key to the legality of the newly passed ordinance, said.

“Since the term is not being served, the city council has the right to change it,” he said. “The office is currently not being served by an elected official.”

The passed away in June while serving the office.

Hessel said that he and the mayor had not spoken further on the matter since the bill’s origination. However, Mayor Schneider said he fully disagrees with the city attorney.

In fact, Mayor Schneider said he’s considering asking Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster for an opinion on the ordinance, but Hessel questions that decision.

“Why would the state attorney become involved in local matters?” he asked. 

Ward 4 City Councilman Keith English said in an earlier interview that after discussing the matter with the city attorney, he believes that the bill is legal.

The ordinance lowers the salary of the Florissant municipal court judge from $55,000 to $50,000.

A special election to decide the next Florissant municipal judge will be held on Nov. 8.

Judge candidate Kevin Kelly, the brother of late Tim Kelly, wished not to comment regarding the issue, and messages to candidate Dan Boyle were not returned at the time of publication.