[RP TownTalk] Mayor and Council Salaries

[Gerald King]

Sorry, I ment to send this to towntalk but didn't realize it was from Rob Oppenhein. I only send it now because I have mentioned it to several people and they were looking for it. 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gerald King 
  To: Rob Oppenheim 
  Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 10:27 PM
  Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Mayor and Council Salaries


  I hear you man. 
  We do need a visionary council. We do need to attract and keep good people
  on the council in order to create a better town. The problem is, I am told by many astute members of this list that our budget is already strained and cut backs in services are inevitable unless we increase our taxes. I'm told that police protection has been curtailed, trash removal is strained, and the little suggestions by naive citizens for social interaction are pipe dreams. All the past creative methods of selling off our parkland, allowing the destruction of a historic landmark dedicated by the late Gladis Spellman, encouraging high-rise high density housing at a major railroad crossing, selling off the town center to a slum lord who has destroyed an invaluable populous community center that initiated many of the social programs that stimulated volunteerism and served as the headquarters for activating the naive citizen's pipe dreams. I'm sure there have been many 'creative methods' suggested and even secretly  or quietly implemented by our town government, but I'm told, by those who know more than I, not to expect any reversal in the erosion of our life styles unless we raise taxes, sell off more parkland and attract more creative town council members by 'first'  raising the salaries of the present members of the council. 
  With all do respect, Mr. Oppenheim, I would vote to raise your salary anytime; but  where is this additional money to come from? The tax and spend philosophy is not to my liking. The spend and tax philosophy is even worse. I know my opinion is based on ignorance of politics and government  I'll be interested in this tread.
  Gerald King 


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Rob Oppenheim 
    To: TownTalk 
    Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 5:18 PM
    Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Mayor and Council Salaries


    This Monday evening (12/4/06) the council will vote to change its salary 
    to $300/month ($600 for mayor).

    Salaries for towns about our size in Maryland average much more - 
    $600/month for council members and $1000 for mayor. 
    ( http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/2006-September/000901.html )
    Is that too much for Riverdale Park? 

    About 30 towns also pay insurance benefits to council members in 
    addition to a salary. We do not.

    We need a visionary council. We need to attract and keep good people
    on the council in order to create a better town. 

    I spend 60 hours a month on council work. To do so, I cut back on 
    paid work, which is forcing me to dip into savings. Ouch. Can't keep 
    doing that, so I am cutting back on the time spent, yet it pains me to 
    put off addressing so many pressing problems.

    Do you think that our council should be paid the same as other 
    towns our size, that is, $600/month? 
    Too much?

    Please let us hear from you. 



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