Seymour is no longer a “sleepy little town,” it’s a $50 million “corporation” and the chief executive officer should be compensated accordingly.
That’s according to Bill Sawicki, the chairman of the town’s Board of Finance, who spoke to the Board of Selectmen at its meeting Tuesday about coming up with a plan to increase the First Selectman’s salary over the current $72,500 mark.
“Quite honestly it’s the universal opinion of our board, and myself included, that to run a $50 million corporation and expect to get paid $72,500 is absolutely ridiculous,” Sawicki said.
Sawicki’s proposal came with no specifics about how much the First Selectman should be paid. Instead, it was meant to prompt discussion and review about what other town leaders in similar positions make.
“If you’re looking down the road to attract candidates and qualified people to do this, you’ve got to go up on salary,” Sawicki said.
First Selectman Kurt Miller recused himself from the conversation, sitting off to the side of the meeting room. At the end of the meeting, though, as other selectmen and one member of the public weighed in on the proposal during public comments, Miller answered questions.
“This position is very taxing,” Miller said. “This position is not a 9 to 5, 40-hour — a‑week job. Some weeks it’s a lot more than that depending on what’s going on. It’s very difficult to attract the right kind of person because of the uncertainty of the position.”
Miller noted that the town’s director of operations, the public works director and the foreman of public works all make more money than the First Selectman.
The average salary for elected officials in a town the size of Seymour is $97,000, Miller said, citing Connecticut Conference of Municipalities statistics.Miller said he’s not proposing the salary be increased to $97,000 — interjecting that he would vote no for that proposal — but used it as an example of how low Seymour’s pay is. He said he would support a proposal to increase the salary for whoever the person elected after him is.
“I didn’t get into this for the money,” Miller said. “That being said, the position is very under-compensated.”
The proposal was met with mixed feedback, including Miller’s admission that he felt very uncomfortable talking about the issue.
“I suppose in this day in age you have to have such compensation,” said Seymour resident Michael Flynn, during the public comment section, recalling former selectmen and town leaders from the 1950s and 1960s. “I think the mindset was a little bit different in those days, you know? People had a greater sense of duty in those days.”
Flynn said he understands that the town duties require more professionalism and understanding of state and federal guidelines now. But the change makes him wonder, he said.
“What’s happened to our society?” Flynn asked. “Is there an overriding sense of duty left anymore that we have to totally rely on people from the outside?”
Click play on the audio clip below to hear some of the discussion.
Selectman Karen Stanek expressed similar sentiments, but noted that a more professional salary might prevent the election of unqualified candidates.
“I really feel this board has an obligation to justify to the residents of this town how much we pay,” Stanek said.
Deputy First Selectman Nicole Klarides-Ditria and Selectman Al Bruno said they supported an increased salary.
“I’m in full support of increasing the salary of the First Selectman, whoever that may be,” Bruno said.
Town Counsel Richard Buturla said the salary, by law, can not be increased during a candidate’s term.
“This is a good time to start the discussion,” Buturla said.
While he didn’t offer specifics, Sawicki outlined a general guideline for what he thought should happen.
Sawicki said the town should set a new compensation level to take effect after some future election, which would include incremental increase on each successive re-election. If someone new is elected, Sawicki suggested they start back at the lower level.
Another avenue to pursue is a town manager form of government, which would involve hiring a professional to run the town instead of electing someone. That would require a charter revision, Sawicki said.
“If this town is going to be expected to continue on some sort of professional pace, something has got to be done,” Sawicki said.
The selectmen agreed to continue the conversation when two missing members were present at a future meeting.
The Connecticut Post reported earlier this year that Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti makes $55,000 per year. Oxford First Selectman George Temple is paid $60,000 per year. Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti makes $110,193 — but Aldermen there just voted to give the position a $25,500 raise.
