Ocean City — Council voted Dec. 22 to freeze its salaries to 2008 and 2009 levels for 2010.

The salaries will remain frozen until a committee to investigate council’s overall compensation meets and releases its final report.

According to the ordinance, the mayor’s pay would remain at $20,600, while council’s pay remains at $10,300. A $1,000 stipend for council president and $500 stipend for council vice president would also remain unchanged.

No one from the public commented during the ordinance’s public hearing.

Councilman Michael Allegretto, who proposed the ordinance, said it was time for council to freeze its salaries and not accept a raise in 2010 as an example to the city.

Councilman John Kemenosh wanted the pay freezes to be voluntary instead of mandatory through an ordinance.

“I just don’t see having to mandate good deeds,” Kemenosh said.

Council President Susan Sheppard said council’s salaries would be frozen until the compensation committee meets and determines council’s fair and equitable compensation.

Council Vice President Roy Wagner said he would support a wage freeze provided other employees join in.

“As a fiscal conservative, talk, speculation and verbal promises just do not cut it. I want to be assured that those freezes would take place and that assurance so far has not been made,” Wagner said.

Wagner said council members are not part-time employees and accrue their own costs for computer equipment, automobiles and offices. He said council members also work hours that extend beyond the traditional 40-hour work week.

“It is a gross inaccuracy to be classified as a part-time worker,” Wagner said. “Our work and time are different from those of typical part timers.”

Wagner suggested that council members who are running for re-election in 2010 could opt out of the pay increase.

Both Wagner and Kemenosh voted against the ordinance, which passed 5-2.