The Fall River City Council voted last night to reject a measure that would have raised the salaries of school committee members and rescind a ban on cost of living increases for the mayor, city council and school committee.
The council vote was 4-4 on raising the school committee pay to that of the council, which is currently just under $16,100 a year. The school committee currently makes just under $8,000 a year, a wage that has not increased in 20 years.
The council then voted 5-3 against rescinding a measure from 2010 that eliminated cost of living increases for elected officials. The council needed six votes to approve the changes. Councilor Leo Pelletier did not attend last night’s meeting.
City council president Joseph Camara was one of the councilors who voted no on both proposals, saying it’s not warranted and it sends the wrong message to voters.
The proposal to raise the pay of the school committee came at the request of member Kevin Aguiar. Councilor Camara says in his discussions with other members of the school committee they were not in favor of the increase.
Video courtesy Fall River Government TV.
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