Port Arthur City Council on Tuesday voted 4-3, with Derrick Freeman, Liz Segler and Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince opposed, to approve an adjustment to salaries and car allowances for the mayor and council that will reduce car allowances for the elected officials, and transfer the difference to salaries.

Under the revised ordinance, the mayor's car allowance will be reduced from $1,000 to $600 per month, equal to 1,081 miles per month at the current rate of $0.555 per mile set by the Internal Revenue Service. The mayor's monthly salary will be increased by $400, to a total of $1,552 per month.

The mayor pro tem's car allowance will be reduced by $400, from $950 to $550, and council members from $900 to $500. Both the mayor pro tem and council members will now have a monthly salary of $976.

Council Member Kerry “Twin” Thomas was absent from the meeting, and Robert Williamson was not present at the time of the vote.

The city council voted voted increase a loan to the Pleasure Island Commission to fund The Marina from $1.7 million to $2.5 million.

The item was amended by the council prior to approval.

The city council voted unanimously to change the meeting date of the November 13 city council meeting to November 9.

The city council voted 3-5, with only Willie “Bae” Lewis, Jr., Harold Doucet and Raymond Scott, Jr. voting in favor of approval, to deny a motion to amend the city's Code of Ordinances regarding travel expenses by adding a penalty.

The proposed amendment, if it had been approved, would have stated that “any council member who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this ordinance or the city's travel ordinance is subject to a penalty of up to $500 as provided in Section 1-3 of the Code of Ordinances”.

The city council voted unanimously to appoint Deral Segler and Maggie Bolden to the Pleasure Island Commission. Segler and Bolden will replace Aletha Kirkwood and Pauline Barker on the board. The positions represent District 2, Liz Segler's district.

All other items were approved by unanimous vote of the members present at the time of the vote. Kerry “Twin” Thomas was absent from the meeting. Agenda