The mayors of Chicopee and Holyoke are paid $85,000 a year.
WESTFIELD – City Councilors voted 11-1 to raise the mayor’s salary by $10,000, but rejected proposals to increase the pay of members of the council and the School Committee.
The raise for the mayor, which takes effect Jan. 1 next year, will increase the salary for the position from $90,000 a year to $100,000 year.
Daniel M. Knapik
In Chicopee and Holyoke, the mayors are paid $85,000 a year. The 2010 federal census lists the population of Chicopee at 55,298 and that of Holyoke at 39,980. Westfield’s population count in the same federal census came to 41,094.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik would only benefit from the boost in pay if he seeks and wins reelection in the fall.
In making the motion Thursday to raise the mayor’s pay, City Council President Christopher Keefe said the last time the mayoral compensation was increased was nine years ago.
“It is definitely a difficult and controversial vote that has to be taken,” Keefe said, adding that some mayors in the area are paid more and some less. “I’m not sure that $90,000 attracts the best candidates.”
Raising the pay could attract a better pool of candidates, he argued.
City Councilor Agma Sweeney cast the sole opposing vote.
Councilors went on to debate raises Keefe proposed for city councilors and School Committee members, with some saying they are deserved but are not appropriate considering the current economic times. The council rejected raising councilor’s pay from $10,000 to $12,000 annually and School Committee members’ pay from $5,000 to $6,000 a year. Those measures failed 5-6.
“Financial times are hard,” Sweeney said. “I think the timing is wrong....It is not in any way a reflection on performance.”
City Councilor Christopher M. Crean noted he supported a raise for the mayor’s position, but would oppose a raise for councilors.
ãThis is just a part-time job,” Crean said.
City Councilor John J. Beltrandi III, who voted for a council pay raise, said he thinks the city and the council do a good job.
“We certainly deserve a pay raise,” City Councilor David J. Flaherty, who voted down a councilor pay raise, said. “I think we also realize we have a long-term obligation to the taxpayer.”
Keefe commented that he will be very interested in how councilors will vote when it comes time to make a decision on pay raises for unionized municipal employees.
“It is never a good time to give pay raises to anybody,” City Councilor Brent B. Bean II said, “You’re talking $26,000. The mayor can find that in a blink.”
The move to increase School Committee pay drew support from Sweeney, Flaherty and City Councilor Mary L. O’Connell, all three of whom had voted down a raise for councilors.
“I believe in education and I will vote for it,” Sweeney said.
“I’m surprised we have all of a sudden found money....I don’t know what changed in the last minute,” Beltrandi said.