Covington Mayor Candace Watkins does not want a raise. The City Council voted her a raise from last year’s salary of $66,144 to $68,650, representing a 4 percent increase and a new car. Watkins had gone on record that she did not want a raise or the car, but the ordinance granting the raise was passed in November.

She vetoed the ordinance.

On Tuesday, a motion to override the veto was introduced at the Covington Council meeting. Once again, Watkins decried the raise. “It’s not that I don’t want more money. I work just as hard as any mayor in the parish. But we need to fix other things in the city. If revenues picks up, sales tax collections increase, we can revisit the issue. But until then, I’m comfortable with this,” Watkins said.

In response, Councilman Lee Alexius said that the Council should “abide by her wishes.” The Council then approved an ordinance setting the compensation for the mayor at the same rate in 2009 as 2008, with no raise.

Other matters considered at the City Council meeting were approved as follows:

• Passed an ordinance unanimously allowing rezoning of a portion of property on N. New Hampshire Street between E. Rutland Street and E. Independence Street from A-3 one- and two-single family residential district and A-6 transitional district to a C-5 office professional district. The new comprehensive plan has the site zoned in accordance with the requested zoning.

• Passed an ordinance unanimously allowing rezoning of property on the corner of N. Madison Street and W. 23rd Avenue to an ID-1 institutional district, churches, from A-2 single-family residential district. The building formerly housed a church, then a dance studio. The property will be the new home of Three Rivers Presbyterian Church.

• Passed unanimously the Covington debris management plan that allows the city to get an additional reimbursement from the Federal government for Hurricane Gustav debris removal.

Also at the meeting, the Tree Care Plan was presented by Priscilla Floca of Keep Covington Beautiful. Judy Mayeaux was sworn in as a member of the Covington Tree Board.

Phyllis Gremillion was appointed and sworn in to serve the remainder of Carl Perkins term on the Board of Adjustment as the representative from District A. Her appointment was confirmed by a vote of 6-1 of the Council with Marty Benoit dissenting.