In today's PP: thoughts, all?
erin
north end
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/7587750.htm
| Posted on Mon, Dec. 29, 2003 | ||
|
ST. PAUL: Pay hike changing character of city council
Pioneer Press A dozen years ago, St. Paul threw its bums out. They weren't really bums: it was the seven-member City Council that was the object of voters' wrath. And technically, they sort of got recycled, rather than thrown out. A charter referendum approved at the polls in the fall of 1991 made them "part time," pared their staff and cut their salary from about $42,000 to $30,000 � where it's been for the last 10 years. "I think there was a general bad feeling about politicians at the time," remembers Dave Thune, who was on the council then, later left and was elected again last month. "People were throwing clothespins and the like. � There was just a general feeling that the rascals should be thrown out." But come January, they'll be back. After a fashion, anyway. The council's pay is set to jump from $30,000 to about $47,000, a 57 percent increase as of Jan. 1, thanks to an ordinance passed last year. City Hall duties will be the principal occupation for at least five of the seven members. It will be a part-time council almost in name only, and St. Paul city government quietly may be headed for yet another of its many transformations... | ||
North End, Ward 5
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