NEW CASTLE Proposal would raise pay for council, mayor
Two council members were not present to voice their opinions on the proposed salary increases.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Mark Elisco thinks it's time that city council got a raise.
"It's been 21 years since city council has had a raise. Do this and then you won't have to raise it for another 25 years," said Elisco, a member of the New Castle City Council.
Elisco wants to increase council member's yearly salary from $2,400 to $5,000 and council president to $5,300 from $2,700 per year.
The mayor's salary would also go up under Elisco's plan to $55,000 a year from the current yearly salary of $44,331.
The only catch is that these salaries won't go into effect until 2004 -- long after all current city council members and the mayor's present terms are up.
"This increase is not for Mark Elisco. The chances for me to sit here in 2004 are slim to none. This community needs to look for a higher level of people to run for office and these increases might help," he said.
The proposal is expected to be on Thursday's agenda, but it's unclear if the wage increase will pass.
Discussion: Councilwoman Patricia May said she would support a $1,000 a year increase for council members and increase the mayor's yearly salary to $50,000.
However, council members must also agree to adopt a code of ethics for all elected officials and city employees and pass an ordinance that would penalize council members for not attending meetings, she said.
Councilman Rick DeBlasio said he agrees with Elisco's proposed increases and also agrees with the proposed code of ethics. He added that he would support giving council members the same yearly percentage increase that the mayor and other city employees receive.
Busy members: However, DeBlasio said he won't be at Thursday's council meeting to support the measure because he will be elsewhere on a business trip.
Council members Robert Bullano and Stephen Vitale were not present at Tuesday's caucus meeting to voice their opinions on the salary increase proposal.
Elisco said he still plans to introduce his version of the salary increase at Thursday's meeting, even if it will go through some revisions from the two council members who were absent Tuesday.
"Regardless of what the increase is, people will still get the perception that you are voting yourself a raise. You are not going to appease anybody and I believe [the proposed increase] is fair and equitable. I want to emphasize again that Mark Elisco isn't getting any of this," Elisco said.