Pomona : City Treasurer Gets Raise

A divided City Council announced a $17,000 raise Monday for City Treasurer Daniel Hempel, raising objections from the representative of a city employees’ union.

Speaking on behalf of the Pomona City Employee Assn., which represents the city’s clerical and blue-collar workers, Thomas M. Ramsey criticized the 29.3% increase for a management employee at a time when union members have been without a raise more than two years. Ramsey also said the council may have illegally delayed announcing the decision, made in closed session last month.

Councilman Ken West, part of the 4-2 majority, said Hempel’s financial skills have created substantial savings for the city by refinancing bonds and by reducing the city’s use of financial consultants. West said the city risked losing Hempel to another city if a salary increase were not offered.

Mayor Donna Smith, who joined Councilwoman Nell Soto in opposing the increase, said she values Hempel’s frugality and creativity but thinks that the “timing couldn’t have been worse.” She said that the state budget devastated the city budget and that the city has yet to bargain with its employees, many of whom may be underpaid compared to staff at the same level in other cities.

Councilman Tomas Ursua abstained.