I normally do not read second section stories.
"New Bedford councilors OK their raises; Earmark on bill with little debate" by Matt Woolbright | Globe Correspondent, July 25, 2012
NEW BEDFORD — City councilors here spent Tuesday defending their decision to give themselves raises amid constituent concerns about the speed and timing of the action.
“They need to do more to keep streets clean and get the riffraff out of the boroughs,” said Monique Britto, 42, a lifelong New Bedford resident. “They don’t need to worry about paying themselves more.”
During a City Council meeting last month, the salary increases were tacked onto another measure that passed unanimously and with barely a word of discussion, said Debora Coelho, an at-large city councilor.
Because the salary bump from about $14,600 to $21,000 a year was passed as an addition to another measure, the public was not notified that the issue would be discussed. It was finalized by the council last week and awaits approval by Mayor Jonathan Mitchell.
“There was nothing to advertise before it was spoken of that moment,” Coelho said. “We do this all the time: An amendment comes up, we make a recommendation, and then add it; that’s government.”
That's right, I forgot; this is Massachushitts.
********************
The measure adds about $70,000 in councilor salaries. Though a tiny sliver in a $285 million city budget, it caused a big reaction.
That is because we are having austerity shoved down our throats out here!
“It’s a shame that they would be doing that because the way the economy is these days,” said Lindy Duarte, 86, as he sipped his daily coffee at a hot dog shop in downtown New Bedford.
And the SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED WAY they did it!
Coelho said the money for the raises would come from “across the well-balanced budget.” No departments will be cut, she said, and no new taxes will be imposed to accommodate the roughly 44-percent salary increase.
It has to come from somewhere.
“We’re educated, dedicated public servants, so why should we be paid any less than part-time workers?” Coelho said.
“It just doesn’t make any sense.
(Blog editor just shakes his head because people in positions of power, no matter how small, just don't get it. Tell it to a laid-off teacher)
Still, the council’s methods did not sit well with some residents Tuesday, who condemned the perceived secrecy of elected officials.
“A decision like that shouldn’t happen in a back-room vote like this,” said Jimmie Gouveia, owner of Jimmie’s Steamy Dogs.
Not in liberal, Democratic Massachushitts.
Perennial mayoral candidate Michael Janson said the raises may be warranted, but the timing could not be worse for the cash-strapped coastal city.
“City Council wants what’s due them, so it’s a Catch 22,” Janson said. “We can’t afford to pay them what they deserve.”
Stephen Silva, a factory worker who saw his finances dwindle while out of work for two years, said the increase was acceptable, but only because it had been 17 years since the last boost.
“Most of them deserve it; you can only not give them a raise for so long,” said Silva, adding he would be miffed if councilors regularly gave themselves raises.
But that is what the council plans to do: Its action mandates annual cost-of-living increases moving forward, pegged to the consumer price index.
In this time of austerity? Isn't that how we got in this mess with the self-serving public servants?
Jim Oliveira, a freshman city councilor, said he backed the raises after realizing how much work is required to serve on the council.
“I’ve seen the money they make and the work they put in, so it made sense,” said Oliveira, who added that the increase translates to only a few percent a year since the 1995 raise.
Before taxes, the current city councilor salary equates to about $280 a week. Oliveira said he regularly puts in 20 hours a week, and some weeks, more than 40.
Is that before taxes, because that is what I gross from my part-time slave job.
“It’s like being a consultant on a fixed fee; you’re required to perform a service regardless of how much time it takes,” Oliveira said....
It's called a SALARY and it is QUITE COMMON in the REAL WORLD!
--more--"
The arrogance stinks more than the fish.
August Updates: New Bedford sees opportunity in wind farms
The hot air never stops.
New Bedford infant, mother found dead
Reason for death of New Bedford mother, child remains unclear
