East Providence council sets starting figure for determining elected-mayor’s compensation

Non-binding approval of $90,000 number gives body a figure to continue discussion

By Mike Rego
Posted 11/20/17

EAST PROVIDENCE — At a special session of the City Council held Wednesday night, Nov. 15, the body gave non-binding approval to a proposed compensation figure for the position of elected mayor, …

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East Providence council sets starting figure for determining elected-mayor’s compensation

Non-binding approval of $90,000 number gives body a figure to continue discussion

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — At a special session of the City Council held Wednesday night, Nov. 15, the body gave non-binding approval to a proposed compensation figure for the position of elected mayor, which takes effect following next year’s election and with inauguration of new officers in January of 2019.

After once again consulting with state-appointed Municipal Finance Advisor Paul Luba, the council set a figure of $90,000 as the starting point for a discussion scheduled to take place during the body’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

The council previously intended to hold multiple sessions on the topic as well as potentially crafting an organizational structure for the mayor’s office. However, led by Ward 3 Councilor Joe Botelho, the majority last week determined it was best left up to the mayor to eventually decide how the office would be staffed. The council also delayed discussion about the allocation for the mayor’s office to the next fiscal year budget season.

Council president and At-Large member Jim Briden had suggested at a prior meeting he and his counterparts concentrate solely on the mayor’s compensation package and leave the office construct to that person once elected.

Mr. Botelho along with Ward 4 representative Brian Faria and Ward 2’s Anna Sousa dissented, voting to hold the special session and potentially another. Ward 1 Councilor Bobby Britto was absent from both recent proceedings. Last Wednesday, though, Mr. Botelho took a mea culpa, admitting after further study Mr. Briden’s initial perspective was correct.

“It’s important for the mayor to structure his or her own office as they see fit,” Mr. Botelho said. “For the council to dictate how the mayor sets up their office doesn’t really make sense.”

Similarly, Mr. Faria said he, too, had reviewed the matter and had decided the proper path was to allow the incoming mayor to decide staffing. Ms. Sousa mostly refrained from the discussion, saying only about the $90,000 compensation figure she felt it may be a bit high. “I’m more frugal, I guess,” she said.

Mr. Briden said later he settled upon $90,000 as a launch point for consideration because it was the average compensation of elected-mayors in Rhode Island Mr. Luba provided to the council at its previous session.

Three members of the recently seated Charter Review Commission, the product of which voters approved all proposed amendments during the November 7 special election, spoke before the council last week.

Commission Chairman Jim Russo, Jason Desrosiers and Rick Lawson each expressed support for the $90,000 figure. Mr. Lawson also pointed out elected-mayor municipalities like Warwick and Cranston have annual budgets for the office of some $500,000, meaning there could be a need to increase East Providence’s chief executive allocation. The current budget for the office of city manager is approximately $260,000.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.