Council candidates pledge to donate salary
WATERVLIET, N. Y. » Two of the three Democratic candidates for Watervliet City Council intend to donate their $ 16,000 annual salary to charity if elected to fill the vacant post.
City Democrats will vote Tuesday in a primary to decide if Peg Germano, Jeff Foster and Frank McGrouty will represent them in the Nov. 7 general election. On Friday, both Germano and Foster said they would not collect the annual salary that comes with the four- year term.
“To me, it’s about serving the community,” said Foster. “It’s not about getting a paycheck.”
“I didn’t want anybody to think that I was doing this for themoney,” added Germano. “My whole purpose of running is really to help the city, so I don’t really need themoney for it, I just want to help the city, since I see it going downhill.”
McGrouty said he would be willing to forego his salary, as well, but only if sitting Councilman and fellow-Democrat Charles Patricelli follows suit.
“I think if one person did it then we all should have to do it,” Mc-Grouty explained.
“I have no problem doing it, too, as long as everybody on the council does it.”
Germano said she intends to not take a salary or any type of pension benefits and would donate her twice- a- month part- time salary to various charities and organizations within the city.
“My plan is to donate my salary to various charities in the city, starting with Kids Count and the Watervliet Charitable Foundation,” explained Germano.
Foster said he intends to donate his salary to support various community events.
“I think a lot of the time, they say that we don’t have enough money to have these events,” said Foster, “so that’s why I thought it would be important to donate my salary.”
The winner of the primary election will face Republican Andrew Williams — who lost to Patricelli last year — to replace Nicholas Foglia, who resigned from the council earlier this year.