Pittsfield Approves Raise For Mayor, Stipends For School Committee
 The City Council approved the raise and the stipend on Tuesday night. |
The City Council approved raising the salary for the mayor to $95,000 and have it increase each year with the Consumer Price Index.
They also approved a $4,000 per year stipend for School Committee members. The raises are the next step in a series of raised given to department heads earlier this year.
"This is not something that is politically a great thing to vote on but we are here to make these decisions," said Ward 6 Councilor John Krol. "It is not popular to do but we've had reports from consultants saying it is the right thing to do."
The raises go into effect in January 2016, when the newly elected officials take office. The School Committee stipends passed easily with only some discussion on possibly giving more to the chairman, which was ultimately rejected.
"In the big picture in our budget, it is a low amount but I think it is a big gesture to the School Committee," said Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso, who served on the School Committee for a decade and knows the amount of work the members put in.
Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi opposed the stipend, saying it "sends the wrong message." He said he wants School Committee members to be community oriented and instead of doing it for pay.
Krol, however, said that argument was "hypocritical" because the councilors themselves get an $8,000 stipend and are eligible for benefits. School Committee members put in just as much work and are not eligible for benefits, he said.
The raise for the mayor passed without opposition but not until after a lengthy discussion that brought the base salary down from a proposed $110,000.
"This is not my number. This is the number the consultant came up with," said Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop, who filed the petition. "This is not about this mayor. This is not about the last mayor. This is not necessarily about the next mayor."
The debate was simply, he said, what is the reasonable amount a mayor of a city like Pittsfield should be paid?
Previously, the mayor's salary was tied to that of the police and fire chiefs, a stipulation the City Council removed Tuesday night. Instead the base salary is linked to the Consumer Price Index, per Tuesday's vote.
 Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi opposed the stipends and the raises, saying it sends the wrong message about public service. |
This year the mayor is making about $87,000. The consultant who recommended the raises for department heads also said the mayor's salary was too low.
Councilors in favor of the raise said more money will give taxpayers the right to demand more and encourage a greater pool of candidates.
"Talent goes where the money is," Lothrop said.
Morandi, again, voiced opposition but voted in favor after the base salary was dropped from $110,000 to $95,000.
Morandi listed an array of communities with similar populations and median incomes where the mayor is paid less than the $110,000.
"The salary for the mayor is right where it belongs," he said, later adding, "Taxes keep going up, unemployment is high, we're losing populations and our tax base isn't growing. Our costs in running the city is getting higher, higher and higher."
Ward 1 Councilor Lisa Tully agreed saying, "I thought the pay was a little bit too high. I would agree to a lower pay."
Vice President Christopher Connell opposed the amendment to link the salary adjustments to the Consumer Price Index saying he wanted to move away from automatic step increases. However, he was outvoted.
After the motion for the base salary to start at $95,000 passed in a 6-4 vote, the council unanimously agreed on the final outcome.
"It is better than where we are currently," Lothrop said.
Tags: mayor, raises, salaries, stipend,
