Aldermen not happy with salary reports

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, October 16, 2002

Brookhaven aldermen took exception Tuesday to recent newspapercoverage surrounding 3 percent pay raises board members approvedfor themselves and city employees two weeks ago. City officials,though, did not rescind the raises.

The newspaper has written several news stories and editorials onthe pay raises within the last two weeks.

Ward 1 Alderman Dorsey Cameron objected to a Sunday, Oct. 6,newspaper editorial linking seven solid waste department employeelayoffs with the salary increases, which raised alderman’s pay to$14,016 a year and the mayor’s pay to $56,064 a year. Cameroncalled the connection a “misquote.”

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“If the paper’s going to print something, they should get itright,” said Cameron.

Cameron said the money used to fund the pay raises could nothave been put in the solid waste department. Ward 5 Alderman TomSmith added that if the city had an extra $1 million, it could notbe put in that budget.

Under state law, the solid waste department budget may only befunded with a revenue from a small property tax levy and user fees.In the face of a project deficit budget, aldermen approved thelayoffs as a way of lowering costs in the operation that has beenlosing money for several years.

Cameron also commented about Sunday’s story comparingBrookhaven’s top officials’ pay with those of othercommunities.

Saying McComb has a city administrator, aldermen took issue withthe article’s comparison of that city’s part-time mayor’s pay andBrookhaven’s full-time mayor’s pay. The article pointed out thecombined $78,000 that McComb spends in compensation for its mayorand city administrator.

Aldermen indicated the newspaper was looking for a “scandal” andto “bad mouth” the board.

“Stuff is being left out to make this board look bad,” Cameronsaid. “I’ve got a problem with that.”

Ward 3 Alderman the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson said the newspaper wastrying to “sell papers” with its coverage of the raises. Ward 2Alderman Terry Bates indicated the board would have received morenegative publicity if it had raised taxes.

In comments that included compliments and condemnation, Wilsonsaid he appreciated newspaper Publisher Bill Jacobs. The aldermentook issue, however, with newspaper coverage that at one momentcompliments the board for balance budget action and the next”bites” it about another issue.

“If you dig a ditch, you fall in it,” said Wilson, who addedlater that the comment was a reference to a Bible verse.

Wilson went on to say he would rather his raise go to the firedepartment or police department.

Wilson said the police have an important job and made referenceto the sniper shootings going on in the Washington, D.C. area. WithHalloween coming up, the alderman also warned of possible “humansacrifices” in Brookhaven.

When asked after the meeting, Wilson said he would not take thepay raise.

“I’m just like Brother Bob (Massengill). I’m for the workers,”Wilson said.

The board discussion on reaction to their pay raises followedearlier comments from Ward 4 Alderman Bob Massengill. In voting forthe pay raises in the 6-1 vote for full-time employees, Massengillsaid he made a mistake in not knowing that aldermen are consideredfull-time employees.

“I didn’t vote for a raise last year. I wouldn’t have voted fora raise this year. I won’t vote for one next year,” Massengillsaid.

Massengill said he blamed no one for his error, but that hefully supported city employees receiving pay raises. Compensationfor all aldermen must be the same, but Massengill gives money fromhis pay raise to the city’s recreation department.

This morning, Wilson telephoned the newspaper to clarify some ofhis comments from Tuesday’s meeting, and said he would give moneyfrom his raise to the police department.

Wilson said he would give his pay raise to Police Chief Arlustra”Pap” Henderson and let him decide how to allocate the money forthe police.

“They need to be well-equipped,” Wilson said.

Wilson also elaborated on his concerns about “human sacrifices”as Halloween approaches. He said the topic comes up around thattime.

“That’s the devil’s night,” Wilson said. “We need to make surelaw enforcement … is in a position to do what they need todo.”

In an unrelated matter during the board meeting, Fire Chief PaulCartwright said he appreciated newspaper and radio coverage inpromoting his department’s fire prevention week activities. As theweather begins to get colder, the chief warned citizens to becautious as they turn on heaters for the first time this year.