The Board of Aldermen Tuesday approved 3 percent raises for non-union city employees — but not before a debate on whether the city could afford the roughly $8,000 to $10,000 increase.
Board Democrats said the city could — and should — approve the raises. The raises were budgeted for and would create parity because union employees already got 3 percent raises, according to Eugene Sharkey, who is on the board’s salary committee.
The lone Republican on the board, John Marini, questioned whether the city should hold the line as a way to make a statement.
“I have no doubt our employees in city hall have worked hard,” Marinin said.
But, Marini said, with unemployment rates in the city hovering at 11 percent, “Now is not the time.”
The $8,000 to $10,000 estimate is based on the fact that some of the employees are hourly, so the exact number depends on how many hours they work.
Opposition
Members of the public spoke against the raises at the Board of Aldermen meeting in July. Click here to read a story about the meeting.
After the discussion, the Board of Aldermen tabled the raises to give the salary subcommittee more time to talk about the proposal.
Marini Tuesday reiterated some of the concerns, saying the increase could be applied toward infrastructure improvements, or set aside for the city’s contingency account.
“I believe an increase at this time is simply irresponsible,” Marini said.
Reducing Inequities
Sharkey said the board will take a hard look at pay moving forward to next year’s budget.
But, he said, it’s not right to refuse this increase for non-union employees when all other union employees received 3 percent raises.
The city is “trying to reduce the inequities,” Sharkey said. “I make a motion we adopt these, as unpleasant and unpopular as it is right now.”
Click play on the video at top to see Sharkey speak about his reasons for the vote.
Mayor James Della Volpe supported the raises, saying that a lot of adjustments had been made to the proposal to save money.
“There have been some movements,” Della Volpe said at the meeting. “Some people have not received raises, some raises have been reduced.”
Della Volpe said the city is also changing its personnel policies to help make decisions on raises in the future.
The non-union employees include the city building inspector, fire department chiefs who receive stipends for their work, the fire marshal and the city’s economic development director. It also includes the nature center staff, crossing guards, Ansonia Rescue Medical Services personnel and staff in the mayor’s office.
Marini was the only person to oppose the resolution.
The raises are effective retroactively to July 1, 2010, the beginning of the fiscal year, according to the resolution.
