Montebello City Council Pay Raise

I am writing this in response to the letter regarding Montebello City Council compensation (Times, Feb. 25). This letter stated that the City Council granted itself a 40% salary increase, which is totally inaccurate.

The last increase in council compensation occurred in October, 1985. This adjustment amounts to slightly less than 5% per year, for a total of approximately 40% over an eight-year period. This would increase the council’s current compensation from $495 to $695 per month, which is comparable to surrounding communities and the Montebello School District. The increase equates to an adjustment of $25 per year, or $2 per month, for an eight-year period.

The Government Code allows for a change in compensation only when at least one council member commences a new term in office. So, although the action was taken at the Feb. 9 meeting, the effective date of the increase in compensation would not be until after the next scheduled municipal election--December, 1993.

Also, it has been stated that this is a “pay increase” for council members. This is definitely misleading. All of the City Council members put in a substantial amount of time, sometimes amounting to 30 to 40 hours per week. All of us consider it an honor to represent the community in this way. I consider it an opportunity to give back to a community that has been very good to me and have never considered the compensation as a factor in my public service.

As mayor, I find it necessary to attend 10 to 12 functions per week, sometimes as many as three per day. The City of Montebello is a very successful, $60-million per year business with close to 500 employees. I have never really given much thought to financial considerations. Perhaps it would be appropriate to ask, what would you consider adequate compensation for this responsibility?

WILLIAM M. MOLINARI

Mayor, Montebello