Council OKs $148k in Raises for Mayor and Department Heads, Votes Down Raises for Themselves

A total of 39 city department heads, including Mayor Michael McGlynn, will receive raises this year for the first time since 2009.

Councilors approved a total of $148,000 in raises for non-union department heads Tuesday night that were requested by McGlynn.

The council voted 5-2 to remove raises for themselves, which totalled about $7,000.

“I think it sends a message to the general public, I think it sends a message to the unions in this community,” said Councilor Michael Marks.

Councilors Paul Camuso and Robert Maiocco both voted to approve raises for themselves. Camuso said he would have donated his raise to his church parish.

Another motion brought by Marks to remove a raise for the Mayor, also worth about $7,000, failed by a 4-3 vote, with Camuso, Maiocco, Fred Dello Russo and Rick Caraviello all voting against it and Marks, Robert Penta and Breanna Lungo-Koehn voting for it.

Penta was critical of the council's decision to not give themselves raises, but give one to McGlynn.

"I think it’s a vote of hypocrisy," he said.