The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen is staying true to its word.

When board members voted to promote Samantha Melancon to the position of city clerk at their July 5 meeting, they approved a salary of $55,000.

Her salary would be capped at $62,000, but they asked for a market analysis to look at clerks’ salaries in comparable cities to determine if changes needed to be made to Melancon’s pay.

On Tuesday, the board voted after a closed-door session to raise the clerk’s salary to $59,000 exempt, which means she won’t be eligible for overtime pay. Ward 4 Alderman Jason Snider made the motion. Alderwoman-at-Large Karen Sullivan cast the only opposing vote.

“I felt that $55,000 was fair for a first-year city clerk,” Sullivan told The Daily Leader Wednesday.

Melancon served as deputy clerk for Brookhaven since 2011, and took over the position left vacant when Mike Jinks retired June 30. Melancon was his recommendation for the position.

Melancon was also approved at the July 5 meeting as the health insurance plan administrator and was appointed to the Linbrook Alliance Board.

Brenda Smith replaced Melancon as deputy city clerk. The board approved Smith’s annual salary of $40,000.

In March, Melancon’s salary as deputy clerk was $40,800. Jinks, who was city clerk for 13 years, earned $67,979 annually when he retired.