Chattanooga Councilman Ron Elliott proposed a compromise plan to add a new legislative staff member to the council office and said he wants a vote next Tuesday. The council has long discussed adding a fourth staffer to help members develop proposed legislation.

"This is a compromise version. I'm trying to get something over the hump." Elliott said his proposal would limit the new position to legislative work only.

Elliott said Kim Strong in the mayor's office already focuses on constituent services. He also noted that Dylan Rivera in the mayor's office holds a similar legislative role with a base pay of $85,671.

Councilman Dennis Clark offered a broader version of the position, saying the new hire should help the council with both legislation and constituent services. The individual in the new position would serve all nine council members.

"It's not abnormal to have someone who would do both," Clark said. He proposed that the base pay for the new position be $110,000, which officials said would amount to around $148,000 with benefits added in. Clark also said that in other comparable cities, council members have three or four staff members each.

Councilwoman Jenny Hill objected to combining the two functions in a single role. "I'm not supportive of this with the constituent services included. I'm not going to vote for something that may be over-priced and under-used." Hill said there should be attention to how much council clerk Nicole Gwyn and the new employee are paid.