Mayor’s longevity bonus still in jeopardy

  Despite falling short in his bid for mayor, Ward 1 Councillor Fred Capone has continued to push for the eradication of the mayor’s $10,000 longevity bonus. Under the current Ordinance, the mayor is entitled to receive $10,000 at the end of every four-year term.

  Capone was not present during the City Council’s November 22 meeting, and Ward 3 Councillor Anthony DiPierro spoke in favor of keeping the longevity bonus. “It rewards an individual for sticking around and doing a good job,” he said, adding that the Revere City Council also has a longevity bonus in place.

  However, Councillor-at-Large Michael Marchese said the bonus should be removed. “I don’t think we should be paying anyone $10,000,” he said.

  Marchese also said the council should request an opinion from Attorney General Maura Healy’s Office as opposed to relying solely on city employees. “We need an unbiased person to interpret how this was written,” he said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I voted in favor of this tonight.”

  Ward 5 Councillor Rosa DiFlorio said the incoming council should conduct a study on mayoral compensation. “Every surrounding mayor makes over $200,000,” she said, adding that the final vote should not be driven by politics. “It’s not the mayor, it’s the mayor’s position.”

  DiFlorio also expressed her frustration with the item, which has remained before the council for several months. “Everybody’s afraid to make a decision up here,” she said.

  The council ultimately voted 5-2 to postpone the matter to the next meeting on December 13.

City Council meeting attendance

  In other news, the council revisited the proposed Ordinance from Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins, which would add “absence and resignation” to City Council Rule 6 Determination of Quorum.

  “It is within our purview to create accountability,” said Martins.

  The proposed Ordinance states: “The absence of a member from two successive regular meetings of the City Council, except for reasons of illness or other reasonable circumstances proved to the satisfaction of the president of the City Council, shall result in the forfeiture of the corresponding stipend for the applicable period. The absence of a member from three successive regular meetings of the city council, except for reasons of illness or other reasonable circumstances proved to the satisfaction of the president of the City Council, may be deemed a resignation from the City Council on the part of said member. A member who is not present for the equivalent of half of a regular meeting based on the number of agenda items, except for reasons of illness or other reasonable circumstances proved to the satisfaction of the president of the City Council, shall no longer be considered to be in attendance for roll call purposes.”

  In response, City Council President Wayne Matewsky reminded his colleagues that John Leo McKinnon, the Ward 4 councillor at the time, intentionally missed nine months of council meetings. “There is a procedure to expel a member,” said Matewsky, adding that McKinnon finally returned to the council just minutes before the vote was taken regarding his removal.

  The council voted 6-1 to refer the item back to Martins.