More than four months after Elizabeth A. Skinner was hired as Walden Village Treasurer, the village board formally and finally approved her salary off $71,500.

Skinner’s appointment was made in August by Mayor John Ramos who set the salary at $71,500, or $500 less than the salary approved for her predecessor Kelly A. Kelly.

That appointment didn’t sit well with former mayor Becky Pearson or former village trustees Mary Ellen Matise and Brenda Adams, who have raised questions at subsequent meetings. They argued that it was up to the village board, not the mayor, to approve the salary, noting that the village had a manager form of government and not a “strong mayor” form of government. Under a manager form of government, they argued, the mayor casts just one vote, the same as each of the other trustees and has no greater authority.

In response to several questions and comments, Village Attorney Dave Donovan addressed the issue at the September 21 village board meeting. He said the board had set a salary of $72,239 for Kelly, prior to the start of the current village fiscal year. That salary, he said, was assigned to the position, not the person holding the position. As the current treasurer is making less than the salary established, he said there was no need for the board to revote on that salary.

Still, at last week’s meeting, Ramos entertained the motion to vote on the salary of $71,500 for the new treasurer as per the hiring agreement. It passed by a 5-2 vote.

“Thank you,” Pearson addressed the board during public comment. “After six months, we’ve decided we’re going to do the right thing.”