Council Approves Raise For First Selectman

By Steve Bigham

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal wants a raise, and he is going to get one.

On Wednesday, the Legislative Council voted, 10-2, in favor of what will amount to an 11.4 percent raise, increasing his annual salary from $63,735 to $71,078 by the year 2000/2001.

Mr Rosenthal sent a letter to all council members late last month requesting the increase. He reminded them that the council is required to set the first selectman’s salary under the town charter. His reasoning for the request was two-fold.

First, surveys show Newtown’s current salary for first selectman is well below that of other towns with similar populations and budgets. For example, Mr Rosenthal said, Ridgefield, a town similar to Newtown, pays its first selectman $76,500. Secondly, Mr Rosenthal’s current salary falls below that of five other employees in the general government –finance director, town engineer, public works director, police chief, and police captain.

Mr Rosenthal’s proposal puts his salary in line with that of Ridgefield and other towns of that size by 2000/2001. It will also place the salary above those of the public works director, police chief, and police captain, but below those of the town engineer and finance director. The first selectman has direct supervisory authority over the public works director and general supervisory authority over the others.

Under the town charter, a first selectman can not receive a raise (other than the normal cost of living increase) within his or her two-year term. However, since Mr Rosenthal is running for re-election unopposed, he is assured to receive this additional money.

Council members all agreed that the first selectman’s salary is too low, and only Pierre Rochman and Joe Borst voted against the raise. During discussion, council members attempted to focus on what the position is worth, and not on the person who currently holds the job.

Funding this salary will require a transfer of $2,487 from the town’s Salary Adjustment account. The account has sufficient funds available after all other raises, Mr Rosenthal said.