Politics & Government
No Raise For First Selectman's Office Next Budget Cycle, Board Of Finance Says
Allowing For A Raise Would "Send The Wrong Signal" Board Members Say
The Board of Finance voted unanimously Thursday morning to not provide a raise for the office of First Selectman in the next fiscal year.
The vote was not a reflection on First Selectman Fillmore McPherson, who holds the office, they said, but rather a reflection of difficult economic times that have forced the town to make difficult decisions about a whole host of programs and services in town.
In fact, several board members indicated they would like to give McPherson a raise, but that they were concerned that doing so would send the wrong signal in advance of upcoming budget hearings and the vote on the town budget.
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The current annual salary for the office is $73,800.
According to figures collected by Board of Finance member Jennifer S. Tung, salaries for First Selectmen for comparable towns cover a wide range. Old Saybrook, with a population of about 10,000 provides a salary of about $72,843. Madison's current population is about 18,700.
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In Monroe, with a population of about 19,000, the salary is $87,251. In Guilford, with a population of about 22,000, the salary is $91,035. In Clinton, with a population of 13,600, the salary is $94,603.
Tung noted that it was difficult to get exact comparisons from one town to the next, due to variations in health benefit premiums, pension expenses, and available information. She made an effort to devise a rough expense ratio, which shows how much the town pays per person per year for the First Selectman's salary. In Madison, that figure is $3.93, lower than every single comparable town evaluated.
"Fillmore McPherson should get a raise," said Chairman Kathleen P. Stahelski. "But, philosophically, we are in tough times at this point."
Board member James K. Matteson was the first to say what the others were implying.
"I am not in favor of a raise at this time," he said.
It was a point of discussion at the meeting Thursday morning because Board of Finance regulations require the board to consider a raise for the office of First Selectmen every two years to go into effect the following January, in this case January 2012. McPherson's term expires November 2011.
Board members explained that it is set up that way so that decisions made during budget season, as part of the budget process, are not a direct reflection on the current office holder.
McPherson did not attend the Board of Finance meeting Thursday morning.
While the vote was unanimous, several board members said it was a difficult decision to make and that they did so with a degree of regret.
"If you want to open this position to someone who is not retired, you have to bring this salary up," Stahelski said. She noted that the job routinely requires 60 and 70 hour weeks and that the First Selectman supervises many employees who are paid significantly more. "It's a challenging job and it should pay more," she said.
The First Selectman is the only member of the Board of Selectmen who gets paid. The other selectmen used to have a stipend of $1,000 several years ago, but that was reduced to $500, then $200, then it was eliminated entirely about four years ago.
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