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Committee backs first reading of salary amendments for emergency management, veterans graves officer and senior aides
Summary
Administration requested raising the Emergency Management Agency director’s ordinance cap from $25,000 to $35,000, increasing the veterans graves officer stipend toward $5,000, and setting senior aids at a 'not to exceed' $20/hour; the committee advanced the measures to first reading.
Interim City Administrator Michael Dionne and Human Resources Director Nick McElhinney presented a package of salary ordinance amendments covering three positions: the director of the Fall River Emergency Management Agency (ordinance cap from $25,000 to $35,000), the veterans graves officer (annual stipend increase from $300 to a not-to-exceed $5,000), and senior aides (a not-to-exceed $20/hour rate).
McElhinney said there are five senior aides (four in the Council on Aging and one in Veterans Services) who are currently paid $15/hour, a rate set since the state minimum-wage increase two to three years ago. The change is phrased as a statutory 'not to exceed' figure, providing flexibility for future pay adjustments rather than guaranteeing immediate raises for incumbents.
Councilors asked about budget availability; Dionne confirmed sufficient budgetary capacity in the current budget to cover the proposed increases. Councilors also reviewed market comparisons for full-time emergency management positions cited by the administration and noted the EMA director functions at a high level despite the part-time ordinance designation.
The committee passed the section(s) through first reading and asked administration to provide any additional fiscal detail at subsequent readings.
