The ordinance was not published in the Coaster newspaper until Thurs., Jan. 13. The state law also says that residents of the municipality may protest the passage of such an ordinance within the 20-day period by presenting a petition signed by at least 5 percent of registered voters. Consequently, several city residents and taxpayers have begun to circulate petitions opposing the salary hikes. With Councilwomen Sheila Solomon and Louise Murray voting in opposition, the rest of the five-member council voted to retroactively increase their own pay by 65 percent, and allow higher salaries for City Manager Wilbert C. Russell, Chief Financial Officer Victoria DeMarinis and others. The raises are retroactive to 1998.
Council members spend a lot of time and personal dollars.
Hamilton's latest paycheck will go to Lincoln University, where he is studying for a master's degree in human services. The deputy mayor acknowledged that making the salaries retroactive was unusual. Murray and Solomon have received their checks but said they did not cash them. Solomon said she did not want to vote for any increases until an audit of city finances was completed. Murray said she could not justify the raises to council members and other non-union city workers because police, firefighters and other unionized employees have been working without contracts for two years.