Finance committee unanimously forwards proposed pay increases for mayor, controller and council to full council

The Bethlehem City Council Finance Committee unanimously recommended that three proposed ordinances to adjust compensation for the mayor, the controller and city council be placed on the agenda of the full City Council for consideration.

Chairwoman Grace Cramsey Smith said the committee would discuss the proposals and related items and then decide whether to move them forward; the committee voted to combine the ordinances for consideration and to forward the package to full council. The committee vote was recorded as aye by Grace Cramsey Smith, Hillary Kwiatek and Rachel Leone.

The proposed changes would update salaries that committee members said have not been reviewed in more than a decade. Council members’ base pay, the committee noted, has remained at $7,100 for council members and $7,600 for the council president since 2009. Committee members also said the controller’s pay has not been adjusted since 2009 and that the mayor’s salary has not been changed since 2013. Councilwoman Mary Wilhelm, who presented a memorandum outlining the…