Readers Say No to Mayor's Proposed Pay Raise
Several Melrose Patch readers said they do not support Mayor Rob Dolan's proposed 26 percent pay raise.
After asking our readers if they supported Mayor Rob Dolan's proposed 26 percent pay raise, a majority said they do not support the proposal.
The Melrose Appropriations Committee will review Dolan's proposal at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
In a Dec. 26 letter to the board, Dolan asked for a pay increase from $99,896 to $125,000. In a Jan. 15 letter to Aldermen, the mayor said, "I respectfully request that this Honorable Board amend Melrose Revised Ordinances, Chapter 48-1. Mayor. Part A. Salary, to read as follows: Effective January 1, 2014, the salary for the position of Mayor shall be $125,000 per annum.'"
In 2010, Dolan submitted a request to aldermen for a pay raise that would have started in 2013, as his salary would have increased 1 percent to $99,896; in 2014, it would increase 7.7 percent to $107,569; and in 2015, it would increase 2 percent to $109,721. However, his request failed to garner enough support from the board, as he ultimately received a 3.5 percent raise in 2012 and a 1 percent raise in 2013, bringing the total salary to $99,986.
Melrose Patch Readers Say No to Mayor's Pay Raise Proposal
While Dolan has received backing from members of the Melrose Chamber of Commerce and others, Melrose Patch readers do not support the mayor's proposed salary increase.
"A $25,000 pay raise? Seems like a bit much..." wrote reader Nate. "You have to be kidding me. He is either out of touch with reality or is just arrogant," added reader cliff webb.
Reader luckyfreeman wrote, "Nice taxpayer funded (proposed) pay hike ... (while) everybody else is struggling to make ends meet." Fellow reader S/O Costa agreed, saying, "I'm sorry, but I cant get behind any one getting a pay raise ... sorry no raise for me, you shouldn't get one either."
Meanwhile, reader John Fri said, "These government CEOs are greedy! I'm tired of the greed, CEOs like this guy are the problem!"
One reader said the economy still has not improved enough to merit Dolan's request for a pay raise. "The economy is still in the tank, however, and if we could not afford it in 2010, I don't see how (Alderman John) Tranmontozzi or anyone else can say that we can afford it now, particularly where in 2010 Dolan was asking for (7.7 percent) in 2014 plus 2 (percent) in 2015, whereas now Dolan is asking for 26 (percent)!"
While the majority of readers were not supportive of Dolan's proposal, one reader did back the mayor's request.
"Anyone who attended (the) State of the City address by Mayor Robert Dolan at Memorial Hall would have (no) difficulty in voting for his salary increase based on the extraordinary progress our city has made in so many different areas of quality of life since he was elected Mayor over 11 years ago," wrote reader MFD. "He continues to invest much personal time and energy into making Melrose one of the best run cities of the Commonwealth and one that all of us continue to be proud to call our city."
Alice Golub
7:01 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
If we want to retain good leadership and attract future talent, it is imperative that we remain competitive with neighboring communities. I would support a pay raise for Mayor Dolan while perhaps cutting back on unnecessary overtime in other city depts ie police detail and week-end DPW crews.
Dave Gray
7:31 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
This is a perfect example of someone who has no idea how the city works.
Roy Bauer
7:56 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Alice, you said it well. Melrose should pay its mayor a salary on a par with similar cities and towns. Additionally, Rob has done a great job as our mayor ... he listens, he is available, he cares, and he follows through.
Give his his deserved and earned raise!
Kathy
7:35 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Are you kidding me? Don't cut back on police anywhere! The next time you get locked out of your house or stranded somewhere..... call the mayor and not the police! He won't even pick up the phone if you were desperate. I agree with attracting talent as we don't have any now! In this day and age, the police earn every dollar - unlike the mayor....
O. Leo Leahy
9:44 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Why not a raise? I'd want $125,000 per year just to sit through those Dante's Seventh Circle of Hell School Committee meetings!
Myron Dittmer
10:07 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
People who read this report from Melrose Patch on reader’s opinions should draw no definitive conclusions from it since only a small sampling was used. Rather the opinion from the Melrose Chamber of Commerce should play a more major role in their decision whether the Mayor deserves a substantial pay raise. The business climate is a reflection of the financial health of a city and the confidence they have in the leadership of the city as well as in the future direction of the city. These businesses have a vested interest in whether the city has been well-run and in good financial health to be able to afford this salary increase to our Mayor. All indications from them and certainly from all financial indicators are a resounding YES. No one can refute the great progress made in bringing our city from the financial trouble it was in 2001 compared to its financial strength today (credit rating from A- with a negative outlook to AA- to positive outlook). In addition, every aspect of our cultural life and well-being has been substantially improved and enhanced during the Mayor’s tenure. Although the Mayor is not in charge of the school system, the recent hire and performance of Superintendent Taymore promises a brighter future for all our children. I for one want this progress to continue and now is the time for us to make an investment in our leadership.
Dave Gray
11:16 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Last time I looked, the Mayor works for all the citizens of Melrose, not just the Melrose Chamber of Commerce, which is nothing but a special interest group. To claim that the Chamber's opinions, a Chamber loaded with the Mayor's pals, and of which he himself is a member, somehow should carry more weight than the opinions of everyday residents who don't belong to the Chamber is ridiculous, and is the same sort of elitist garbage that causes most of our problem in the first place. Has he done some good things? Sure. Has he done some really stupid things? Sure. Does he deserve a 26% raise while every other City employee get 1%? Absolutely not. Giving anyone a 26% raise at this point in time is a slap in the face to every City employee, and every citizen, when there are kids in school who can't bring their texts home because they have to be left there for the next class to use.
Myron Dittmer
1:07 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Dave.....you know that the Chamber is made up of independent business leaders in the community......who are more concerned about the health of their businesses than being friends with the Mayor. Their livelihood is based on profit not friendship with the Mayor......and once this is clearly understood, your comments make little sense. Any business operating in a community where the climate is financially weak, where city leadership is lacking, where there is a diminished quality of life, would not support any salary increase for a Mayor.....however, this is not the case we find in Melrose. Therefore, these business leaders see a real return in such an investment if not for this Mayor then certainly for future Mayors. A city Mayor's job is unique and no other position in our city has such diverse responsibilities....you might say that "the buck stops with the Mayor".......and as such his position needs to be treated differently than all other union-protected positions.
Shane Egan
3:25 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I understand the general concern that a 26% raise seems too high. Compared to the average 2-3% raises that most employees in good standing would receive, this seems excessive. However, in the business world and in government, there comes a time when "market adjustments" must be made to reduce inequities in pay. Compared to other area mayors and town managers, this is clearly what is needed here. Melrose needs a full time mayor who can put in many hours managing our government. We need to have a market adjustment in the mayor's pay. If you look at the list of highest paid city employees, the Mayor's job is relatively low on the list after several school positions and a slew of police officers.
Scott Sawyer
4:16 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
ask for 26% at the end get 10% and everyone is happy, this is just a game
Norberto Rodriguez
8:59 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
There are people who work under the mayor that make more than he does. He is the chief negotiator with unions and other small city mayors make more money. I think after 12 years as mayor and everyone can agree he has done a competent job overall, a salary of $125,000 is not unreasonable.
William Trudeau
12:15 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The mayor should get the same pay raise as the all city workers not 25%. Mary Ann Long is comparing his salary to surrounding communities. If the Mayor gets his raise by this comparison than the underpayed (compared to surrounding communties)Police and Fire Dept should gets their raises by the same methods