Re: [StPaul] PP 12/29/03: Pay hike changing character of city council

[Pamela Joy Ellison]

I'll take a stab at it.  I am all in favor of full time elected officials.  I think they do a better job and they can be held to the fire more easily for making progress or not, if they are being paid full time for the job.  If they are not effective, they do not have other moonlight endeavors to hide behind as an excuse for not attending a meeting, or not getting something crucial done for the city. I also happen to think we would have a much better legislature if we did the same.  However, the raise in pay should be considered only around what the current economy would dictate.  The State is still in the red.      That being said, I do think it is interesting timing though.  Here we are living in a city for all intents and purposes that is broke.  The school district is forced to make deep cuts in education.   Many Minnesotans are still out of work, and whether the economy is turning around or not, it may not be the time to be raising the pay of the incoming council until we are in better financial shape.  If you look at the retail market in the downtown area, there is a large sucking sound in the vacuum of commerce.  Many small shops have closed down, and a few are barely hanging on in this economy.  It begs the question, just how DO we get an economic boom downtown?    I think that should be high on the agenda of the city council, BEFORE they raise goes into effect.   Like I said, if the citizens aren't seeing gains in their pay, should those we elect to office to solve the problems be afforded that luxury?   Pamela Ellison Como Park Saint Paul  ----- Original Message ----- From: erin stojan To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2003 9:51 AM Subject: [StPaul] PP 12/29/03: Pay hike changing character of city council 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 BY TIM NELSON 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... ------------------ BIG DISCLAIMER on Reiter/Fletcher issues:  "This summary is to the best of my recollection based on the above-mentioned sources.  Significantly, I did not have access to the written affidavits that were filed in the residency case.  Those documents, or others, may contain information that challenges or totally contradicts my account.  This is information available to the public; I have no knowledge of, and make no representations about, private information held by Ms. Reiter, Sheriff Fletcher, or others.  The views expressed are entirely my own.  I apologize in advance for any inaccuracies." ------------------------------------------ Erin Stojan North End, Ward 5 Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos - Get your photo on the big screen in Times Square