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ATTLEBORO - The mayor's new pay plan for non-union and salaried workers went through a storm of controversy in committee last week, but it was smooth sailing in the full council Tuesday.

But city councilors rejected a proposal by Mayor Kevin Dumas to link the pay of the mayor to the city's classification plan. The council did give the mayor's job a boost in salary that will take effect after the next city election.

Dumas had proposed that the mayor's job be considered equal to a Grade 15 on the city's non-union pay plan, the highest level, but councilors decided that pay for the city's chief executive should be set independently.

On a 7-4 vote, they set the salary at $85,000 a year - up from $71,800.

Councilor Bill Bowles pushed to change the mayor's plan and argued for the $85,000, saying it falls in the range of salaries given to mayors of cities to which Attleboro is usually compared. Other councilors like John Davis, who said he will seek the mayor's job in the next election, argued that pay linked to a classification plan, which increases every year, would give mayors "the incentive and means" to stay in office longer than they should.

And others, like Councilor Robert Schoch, said they were philosophically opposed to the change because of the nature of the job of mayor.

If Dumas' plan had been approved, a mayor in his or her first year would have made about $92,000 a year. That salary would have grown to $120,000 after 10 years of service.

The council also raised the salary of city councilors to $7,727 a year or one-eleventh of the mayor's $85,000. That salary will also take effect after the next election.

School committee members also got an increase from their $2,500 a year. They will make half of the council salary, or $3,863.

The council did vote to link the salaries of the city clerk, treasurer and collector to the classification plan.

All will be Grade 11, which start at a salary of $64,404 a year. The top salary after 10 years for those jobs is $84,032 per year.

In the plan that applies to non-union and salaried workers, Bowles succeeded in reducing the grades of three of dozens of positions affected by the plan.

Last week, the move failed in sharply divided committee, but passed with little debate on a 6-5 vote of the full council.

The plan as a whole passed 10-1, with Council President Barry LaCasse casting the only vote against. Councilors in general were in favor of a new plan, which increases all pay, puts jobs in grade levels and sets minimum and maximum salaries. The higher the grade the higher the salaries.

The stumbling block revolved around three jobs, and once that was decided the rest was easy.

Jobs which got grade cuts were auditor, mayor's assistant and director of budget and administration.

While they were cut one grade from the mayor's plan, the auditor and director of budget still went up one grade. Mayor's assistant remained in its grade, but got a salary boost.

"I think (the grades) go beyond what is warranted," Bowles said. "I can't support the plan as presented, but I can support it with the amendments."

The new plan will increase the salaries of most upper and mid-level administrators - some significantly.

Overall it will add about $113,000 to the city's $100 million budget this year and another $226,000 next year, officials estimate.

Based on a study by an outside consultant, the plan does not cover union jobs or jobs in the fire, police or school departments.

Dumas is hoping it will help the city attract and retain high-quality employees, as well as bring all levels up to where they should be, compared with other towns and cities.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.