Councilors: Stipend cut hurts locals

LYNN – A City Council pay and stipend cut will save taxpayers $128,000 a year but councilors warned it also takes away vital support for neighborhood groups and non-profit organizations who turn to councilors for help.?Honestly, I don?t think any councilor makes enough money to cover expenses that come with the job,” said Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr.A February Superior Court decision declaring Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy?s salary to be $82,500 a year called into question a higher pay rate former Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. received and cast light on city ordinances tying council salaries to the mayor?s.Beginning in April, Cyr and his 10 fellow councilors began receiving monthly paychecks reduced to bring council pay to within 15 percent of the mayoral pay rate referenced in the court decision. The reduction cut council monthly pay by $244, reducing annual council pay from $15,301 to $12,375.?Council (President Daniel) Cahill called and said, ?Please recalculate council amounts,?” said city Treasurer Richard Fortucci.Councilors – and Kennedy – also stopped taking the $725 a month stipend they each receive that dates back decades, according to city Comptroller Stephen Spencer?s initial research.?It?s always been in place,” Spencer saidThe pay reduction translates into a $32,200 reduction and taxpayers save $95,700 on the stipend suspension. Ward 7 Councilor Rick Ford said the stipend helped pay for gasoline and telephone expenses connected to his council work.Ford said he meets regularly with West Lynn residents and cited recent meetings on Harmon Street and an upcoming one with Walnut Street residents as examples. He donates to local organizations and sports teams, including Classical High School teams, Pop Warner and the Sacred Heart golf tournament.?Every day there is something – and on weekends,” Ford said.Cyr estimates Ward 2 Councilor William Trahant Jr., who represents several East Lynn neighborhoods and runs a local roofing company that bears his name, spends the equivalent of “$40,000 to $50,000″ a year out of his own pocket helping Little League teams, preparing ballfields and parks for play and – like Cyr – plowing during snowstorms in response to constituents? calls.?We?re always digging into our own pockets,” Cyr said, “The reason why the stipend is important is because groups are constantly asking for donations.”Councilors voted in March to hold a public hearing on mayoral pay and then cancelled the hearing with Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi – a mayoral pay hike supporter – stating that the pay debate is currently “not a priority.”?I have no idea when that is coming up. When it does, I?m prepared to take a position,” Lozzi said.