Mayor's Salary Comes Up for Discussion

The salary for the job of Montville mayor has come up for debate, and the current mayor admits he’s a little ticked.

Joe Jaskiewicz has had the job for eight years, and his pay - $61,000 – has not budged in that time.

“The previous eight years, it was not worth bringing up,” Jaskiewicz said at the Finance Committee meeting Monday evening, “and the minute I announce I’m not running, it’s worth bringing up.”

Theresa Hart, finance director, said she had investigated what other towns in the region pay their top executive, but that it was difficult to come up with comparable information.

“It’s not a clear snapshot,” she said.

Gary Murphy, who serves on the town council as well as the finance committee, said he believes “Our elected officials should make what they make in comparable cities.

“The huge discrepancy between (them and) what Montville is making – I was actually amazed at how much our mayor makes compared to towns of equal size. They’re all up in the high 70s, low 80s,” he said. “Some are even in the 90s.”

In New London, the mayor’s salary was recently set at $86,000. The first selectman in Waterford makes $88,487.

The committee also briefly discussed the salaries of the town council. They make $2,000 a year.

“As far as town council salaries go,” Murphy said, “I am not in favor of raising it. I don’t feel I need more money – I don’t even want to take the money that they give me. I don’t do the job for the money, and I don’t think any of the councilors do.”

The salary discussion was put on the agenda by Town Council member Russ Beetham, who was not present at the meeting. Further discussion was put on hold.