St. Lawrence County lawmakers face questions over possible pay raises
St. Lawrence County lawmakers may consider compensation changes after a committee reviewed pay for legislators and county employees, but no vote or proposal has been confirmed.
By Caleb Mercer, ClickNNY North Country Desk
St. Lawrence County lawmakers may soon consider changes to compensation for legislators and county employees, prompting questions about how the review was handled and whether the public will see the committee’s recommendations before any action is taken.
The county created a Compensation Review Committee in August to examine pay for lawmakers, department heads and administrative staff. The committee included three legislators and three community members, according to reports about the county’s action. Joe Lightfoot was identified as chair, with Nicole Terminelli and Rick Perkins also serving on the committee.
Mike Zagrobelny, chair of the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee, said lawmakers discussed possible pay raises during an executive session at the September Finance Committee meeting. Zagrobelny said the committee’s findings were also shared with the full Board of Legislators behind closed doors.
The county’s Board of Legislators is based in Canton. Committees meet in the Legislative Board Room at 48 Court Street, and county meeting minutes say meetings are broadcast live on YouTube.
The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026, according to the county’s revised meeting schedule. The full board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2. Those dates and agendas can be checked through the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators and the county’s 2026 meeting schedule.
The county has not confirmed through the available information whether a pay-related resolution will be considered, what recommendations the compensation committee made, or whether the committee’s report will be discussed in an open meeting.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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