MELVILLE’S mayor and councillors have voted to give themselves a 1.5 per cent pay rise.

The increase comes on the back of a 3 per cent salary boost they gave themselves six months ago, although the minutes note that a year earlier they hadn’t taken up a similar rise as recommended by the Salaries and Wages Tribunal.

With annual meeting and allowances taken into account, the increase means mayor Russell Aubrey will take home $135,910 each year, while councillors will pocket $31,364 (with the mayor’s deputy getting an additional $22,216).

The issue split the council and it only just got through 7 – 6.

Those in favour included mayor Russell Aubrey and his daughter Rebecca, June Barton, Duncam Macphail, Patricia Phelan, Clive Robartson and Guy Wieland.

Those opposed included Tim Barling, Nicole Foxton, Lisa O’Malley, Nic Pazolli, Cameron Schuster and Matthew Woodall.