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Date: 11/30/2022
CHICOPEE – The City Council approved an ordinance revision that will grant raises to City Council and School Committee members during their Nov. 15 meeting. The raises will be in effect in 2024 following the 2023 election.
The raises include an increase of annual salary for councilors – from $12,000 to $14,000 annually – and School Committee members – from $6,000 to $7,500. The ordinance also showcases pay increases for the City Council president and School Committee vice chair. The City Council president will now make $15,000 as opposed to the current $13,000 annual salary, while the School Committee vice chair will receive $8,000 instead of $6,500.
The topic had previously been discussed during numerous Ordinance Committee meetings. City Councilor At-Large James Tillotson argued in favor of the increase, sharing that City Council members have not received a salary raise in over a decade.
“We haven’t had a raise in at least 10 years, so I don’t think anyone can object to us getting a raise,” said Tillotson.
Tillotson also said the timing of the raises is appropriate, as members of both bodies would have to get reelected in 2023 to benefit from the increase.
“It wouldn’t go into effect into 2024, you would have to get reelected. I think its fair in that sense as well,” said Tillotson.
Members of the council aired varied perspectives on the raise proposal. Ward 9 City Councilor Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello said she would not support the raise, citing ongoing financial struggles impacting Chicopee residents as a reason for her stance.
“I know the City Council hasn’t had a raise in 10 years, but I don’t think the timing of this is good timing. Energy costs for the taxpayers and our residents are going to be very high, inflation is at a 40-year high, everything is going up.”
Pniak-Costello continued, “When I ran for this position, I knew the salary. I’m not going to change it 13 months from now … I can’t vote for this at this time in our economic [status].”
City Councilor At-Large Gerard Roy expressed his support for the raise.
“We’re talking about $2,000 a councilor … I don’t think that’s a lot of money for the city,” said Roy.
Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina López claimed that the raises could inspire more public interest in running for council and School Committee positions.
“The reality is that in this market, we cannot expect folks to come and do the work that we do for the money that we’re doing it … As much as I enjoy working with my colleagues, part of this is we do want some new blood in here. We want folks who are able to do this work and get compensated accordingly,” said López.
Ward 5 City Councilor Frederick Krampits said raises for council and School Committee members was always a “hot potato issue.” He shared that the council previously declined potential raises a few years ago while approving pay increases for other city officials.
The City Council ultimately approved the raises in a 12-1 vote. The council also considered a proposal that would tie future pay raises to increases that unionized city department employees receive, but eventually voted 12-1 in favor of sending the item to a subcommittee meeting.