TABLED FOR NOW
Kelly’s pitch for City Council, mayor’s raise on hold
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
>> From a pitch for an increase in salary for City Council members to traffic patterns to being a good pet parent, Tuesday’s lengthy City Council meeting addressed a range of topics, including:
Mayor’s Department:
In an impassioned plea for consideration of increased compensation for herself and the other City Council members that ultimately failed to garner sufficient support, Mayor Meg Kelly reiterated that City Council salaries have not been increased since the last Charter revision in 2001.
She proposed raising council member salaries from $14,500 annually to $30,000, effective upon filing.
Kelly began her department’s portion of the meeting with the following remarks:
“As we are entering a new budget season, the time is right for a fair and reasonable discussion about City Council salaries, considering duties, responsibilities, and time commitment.
“Council members are neither part-time nor figure heads; these people are responsible 24/7 for the health, safety and welfare of all those within our borders: men, women, young, old, vulnerable, thriving, citizens and visitors alike.
“Council members take care of our present and lay the plans for our future.”
Providing the math, Kelly calculated that at that rate, her 50-hour work week averages out to $5.58 an hour. She said that in 2020, the minimum wage in New York State will be $11.80 per hour.
Kelly added that among 14 cities in New York State that are comparable in size to Saratoga Springs salaries are among the lowest in the state, citing the aver
age mayoral salary among those towns to be $44,552.
Due to lack of support by fellow council members who cited reasons including waiting for a more prudent time, the proposed salary increases were tabled for the present.
Comments from those present included:
Chris Mathiesen, former City Council member:
“Regarding the proposal for a $30,000 salary level for members of the Saratoga Springs City Council, it is my opinion that the present $14,500 salary is too low. It has not increased since 2001 while the cost of living has increased. Applying the Social Security cost of living adjustments over the past 19 years to this figure, the City Council salary should be at least $20,000.
“Another problem is the health insurance benefit that some Council members enjoy while others do not. Members who are receiving the free family health insurance have an additional benefit worth nearly $25,000.
“Commissioner Scirocco has Medicare and a free health plan that was part of his contract as a retired long-term City employee. He does not need the free Council health plan so his compensation package is much less than for those who do have the insurance.
“The City Council salaries should definitely be increased to at least $20,000 out of fairness. To increase it to $30,000, the free health insurance program should be ended with members paying a significant portion of the premium if they are to have access to the City plan.”
Running over the allotted two-minute comment period, on Saratoga Hospital-Morgan Street issue, Mathiesen added:
“I have spoken about the Morgan Street property during public comment at four Council meetings beginning in early July. I was on the City Council that approved the Comprehensive Plan in 2015 and, in retrospect, we did not spend any significant time evaluating the impacts of the zoning change for Parcel #1 (Morgan Street) from residential to commercial.
“Neither did the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee which only heard about the Hospital’s proposal for this change at the tail end of their 19 month term. I continue to ask the Council to bring this back for re-consideration as an amendment to the 2015 Comprehensive Plan before the UDO is completed later this year.”
• A 9/11 Remembrance Day Ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. in High Rock Park. •••