PROSPECT — The Town Council is reviewing the salaries and job descriptions of some elected officials.
Town Council Chairman Thomas Galvin said the council typically bases the salary and raises of elected officials on the current cost of living. However, he recommended this year the council take a look at the duties of each official and compare their salaries with the salaries in similar-sized municipalities.
“So, instead of saying it is just a cost of living, saying the State of Connecticut has dramatically changed the duties of the tax collector. Certainly, in Prospect, I would say we’ve suddenly taken on a lot of responsibility for collecting sewer fees. So, periodically I think it is the right thing to do to look at what the job content is and make sure you are substantially similar, if you want to be, with towns of your size and your geography, as to what you are paying,” Galvin said.
The council is looking at the mayor, treasurer, tax collector and town clerk positions. The salaries for these positions were compared against the salaries for the same positions in eight other similarly sized towns, including Woodbury, Woobridge and Hebron. All the salaries were from the 2013-14 fiscal year.
In three out of four cases, Prospect is paying lower salaries for the same positions than the average of the towns compared.
Prospect’s tax collector was paid an annual salary of $49,252 in 2013-14, which is approximately $8,100 less than the average. The town clerk was paid $49,085, which is approximately $9,500 less than the average.
The town’s treasurer, which is a part-time position in Prospect, was paid $5,200, which is approximately $80,000 less than the average.
The only position that was paid more than the average was the mayor, who made an annual salary of $79,959, which is approximately $1,300 more than the average.
Galvin said the first step in making any decision is to review the current salaries and the job descriptions, which Mayor Robert Chatfield will turn into the council along with the proposed 2015-16 budget in the beginning of March.
“From the point where the mayor turns it over to the Town Council, it becomes the council’s responsibility to review its content and make any changes deemed to be for the good of the town. Included in that responsibility is a determination of the salaries for town employees, including elected officials,” Galvin said.
Galvin said one reason the salaries are being looked over this year is because salaries for elected positions can only be changed after an election occurs. The next election is in November.
“I personally feel it is important that such determinations not be made in a vacuum. To that end, it is appropriate to periodically review compensation levels to assure they are in line with professional standards. In Prospect’s case, comparing our data with that of towns of similar size, 5,000 to 9,999, is a valid technique. Other factors, including years of experience and individual performance evaluations must also be considered,” Galvin said.
If the council chooses to make any changes to the salaries of the elected officials they will become part of the overall 2015-16 municipal budget. The entire budget is expected to go to a public hearing at the beginning of April and a town meeting two weeks later.
