New Honesdale president declines pay

LINDA DROLLINGER
Posted 8/21/12

HONESEDALE, PA — “I’m not going to take it,” said brand-new Honesdale borough council president Mike Augello. Speaking at the council’s January 4 annual reorganization meeting, Augello was …

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New Honesdale president declines pay

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HONESEDALE, PA — “I’m not going to take it,” said brand-new Honesdale borough council president Mike Augello. Speaking at the council’s January 4 annual reorganization meeting, Augello was not registering a protest; he was pledging to forego the monthly stipend that the borough pays its council members.

The borough council president’s annual stipend is $1,875; Augello’s monthly check will be approximately $156.

Saying that borough law requires payment checks to be issued monthly to council members, Augello noted that the checks will continue to be issued, but that he will reimburse the borough for the amount of each check after taxes. Other council members may do the same, but Augello was the only one to make public his pledge. As president, he earns more than other council members; they earn only $1,750 per year, or $145 per month.

The savings realized by this aggregate nonpayment will be used as partial funding for the borough manager’s position that the three new council members, Augello, Jeremy Ebert and Chris Murray, hope to fill. Created two years ago, the borough manager’s job description can be viewed at www.ecode360.com/2703409. Although compensation for the position was left to the discretion of the council filling it, the annual salary and benefits package for a municipal manager will almost certainly equal or exceed $50,000.

Augello’s remarks came as the council voted to reopen the 2016 budget for the purpose of funding the borough manager position. Initially, Bill Canfield and Bob Jennings voted against reopening the budget the previous council had approved on November 28. But when Augello said that the vote was only to permit a review of the budget and not to redistribute funds, they changed their votes, making the vote to reopen the budget unanimous.

Augello was quick to add that, regardless of budget review results, there will be no tax increase.

In other reorganization business, Jennings was elected council vice president, Canfield president pro tempore. Canfield will chair the streets committee; Jennings will chair the safety committee. Judith Poltanis was reappointed to borough secretary, Karen Breidenstein to borough treasurer, Dan Hnatko to code enforcement officer and building permit officer. Second and third Mondays at 6 p.m. were designated as regular council meeting time and dates.

Two two-year-term council vacancies remain. Applicants for appointment to these vacancies must submit resumés to the council by 4 p.m. on January 13. For more information, call 570/253-0731.

Newly-elected mayor Melody A. Robinson opened the meeting, not with a prayer, as former mayor Jack Bishop had done, but with a reading of “Desiderata,” a poem by Jack Ehrmann. Robinson also outlined her accessibility policy. Noting that Bishop’s retiree status enabled him to keep regular office hours as mayor, Robinson said that her full-time job and family obligations would make that less feasible. However, she provided contact information (phone: 570/478-0007; email: melodyarobinson@me.com; she can also be messaged via her Facebook page, https://www/facebook.com/melodyrobinsonhamill) and urged the public to reach out to her.

At the regular meeting following, three public hearings were scheduled. On January 21, the Wayne Health Systems heliport application for conditional use will be considered. On January 25, the Wayne Memorial application for property subdivision will be considered. And on January 18, a liquor license transfer will be considered. All hearings start at 6 p.m.

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