NCCo Council Votes To Pay Board Members $100 Per Meeting

New Castle County Council has voted 7-3 with one abstention to expand payments to the board members who serve on the county’s boards, committees, and commissions.

“At a time when it is difficult to find residents to serve on these important boards, compensating members will increase participation,” said council member Dee Durham, who sponsored the bill to pay them $100 per meeting.

The move is estimated to cost $46,782 in fiscal 2025 (which has already begun), $62,375 in fiscal 2026, and $62,375 in fiscal 2027.

The pay doesn’t apply to “current employees of any governmental body,” the bill says.

Currently, eligible members of six boards already earn $100 per meeting: the Board of Adjustment, the Board of Assessment (eligible members get $25 an hour after the first six hours of meetings), the Historic Review Board, the Human Resources Advisory Board, the planning board and the police accountability board.

The bill extends that pay to the agricultural land preservation advisory committee, the audit committee, the board of license inspection and review, the diversity commission, the employees’ retirement system board, the financial advisory council, the fire and ambulance advisory board, the housing advisory board, the library advisory board, the open space advisory board, and the public arts commission.

“The ethics board opted out of the ordinance,” Durham said.

Joining Durham in support were council members Kevin Caneco, John Cartier, David Carter, George Smiley, Jea Street, David Tackett, and Brandon Toole. Voting no were Penrose Hollins, Janet Kilpatrick, and Timothy Sheldon. Council President Monique Williams-Johns abstained.

Compensation for boards, committees, and commissions is a mixed bag for Delaware’s counties.

Sussex County has 12 boards, committees, and commissions, with varying compensation, according to county spokesman Chip Guy.

Board of Assessment Review members used to get $100 per meeting, but with the increased workload from the countywide reassessment, they’re now getting $400 for a full day.

Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission members get $250 per meeting. Personnel Board members get $150 per meeting. Board of Adjustment and Appeals members get $100 per meeting. Library Advisory Board members get $50 per meeting.

The members of these boards get no compensation: airport advisory committee, economic development committee, farmland preservation advisory board, local emergency planning board, pension fund committee, and source water protection technical advisory committee.

Kent County pays $80 per meeting to members of some of its 17 boards, committees and commission. Members of the Board of Assessment Review get up to $100, and the chair up to $125.