WHEATFIELD — A proposal to reduce the pay of two elected officials will be the subject of a public hearing next month.

The Town Board recently voted to hold a hearing at 7 p. m. Dec. 14 to cut the pay of the town clerk and highway superintendent through a local law. If approved, the proposed law would be subject to a public referendum.

The pay reduction would not impact the base salary but would eliminate the added compensation both positions have been receiving since 2008 for additional duties. By law, the board cannot change the salary of an elected official.

Under the proposed law, Town Clerk Kathy Harrington would lose $5,000 a year and Highway Superintendent Art Kroening $2,500, if approved by voters, Town Attorney Robert O’Toole said.

O’Toole said the move resulted from the Town Board’s decision to evaluate the added compensations department heads receive on a one-time basis for duties not reflected in the salary chart. The chart is used to determine salaries for these managerial positions based on job duties. Most wages are increased according to grades or steps, he said.

The added compensations were included to cover extra duties of the jobs, and are performance- based.

Harrington will be paid $58,308 this year; Kroening, $60,718. Without the compensations, but including the slated step increases next year, Harrington would be paid $54,184 and Kroening $59,154, O’Toole said.

Harrington, who took office last year, argued that her added compensation was based on her added duties for collecting taxes. Voters approved a referendum last year to incorporate the receiver of taxes position into the clerk’s office.

She said the move has saved taxpayers $10,000 to 12,000 a year, even with her additional compensation, and has given residents expanded service hours at the office.

Kroening, who did not address the issue at a board meeting last week, told The Buffalo News that some positions may have to expect to “lose a little money” because “times are tough.”

His extra pay is to compensate him for being on call 24 hours a day. He said the added pay was given to him to bring his salary higher than those department heads who don’t have added responsibilities.

Kroening is in his 10th year as superintendent. His term expires at the end of 2011.

Supervisor Timothy E. Demler, who cast the sole vote in opposition to the proposal, said the move by the board was political and asked that the extra pay for the deputy supervisor be included. The deputy supervisor position receives $3,500 a year more than the other three councilmen. His suggestion was not supported.

Councilman Larry Helwig said the cuts were “performance- based” and in Harrington’s case was determined by the number of hours she puts in at the Town Hall.

Recreation Director Edward Sturgeon also receives added compensation but because he is not elected, the board can adjust his salary on an annual basis. According to the discussion, all added compensations would be removed in the 2010 budget. The board is facing a revenue shortfall of $734,000.

O’Toole said if the proposal receives positive reaction at the hearing, a vote could be set up as early as Jan. 14.