ROCKLAND — In addition to a referendum question to see if voters will approve or reject a proposed local minimum wage ordinance, five candidates appeared on the ballot in Rockland during the November election cycle vying for a pair of Rockland City Council seats. 

Seeking the two council seats were Sarah Austin, Ian Emmott, Adam Lachman, Louise MacLellan and Ryan Smith. 

Austin and Emmott completed PenBayPilot.com candidate questionnaires. 

The referendum question read: “Shall the Ordinance entitled ‘Local Minimum Wage Ordinance’ be adopted?” 

The question further noted: “If adopted, this Ordinance would set the Local Minimum Wage for businesses with more than 25 employees at $13.00 per hour beginning on January 1, 2022; increase the Local Minimum Wage to $14.00 per hour beginning on January 1, 2023; increase the Local Minimum Wage to $15.00 per hour beginning on January 1, 2024; and then increase the Local Minimum Wage annually based on the percentage increase to the cost of living.) 

For more on this referendum question, including the specifics of the proposed ordinance, read: $15 minimum wage? Rockland residents to decide at polls.