ATTLEBORO — The city council finance committee moved an $11,000 appropriation to the full council for a vote next week to cover the raise they voted themselves in June.
The money was voted out of committee on Tuesday by a 2-0 margin.
Chairman Richard Conti and Council President Jay DiLisio both voted in favor.
DiLisio was filling in for absent committee members Todd Kobus and Sara Lynn Reynolds.
The $11,000 will cover the last half of fiscal year 2024. Councilors will be paid $8,727 in the last six months of FY 2024.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone speaking against this motion,” Conti said. “I wish it was a bigger number. I fought for a bigger number.”
Conti called it a “thankless job.”
Councilor Kelly Bennett, who chose not to run for re-election, said the raise is overdue.
“It will ensure that running for council will attract (less well-off) members of the community,” she said.
Councilors have not had a raise since 2012, or 14 years.
In June, the council voted 6-4 for a $2,000-a-year increase in salary each of the next three years. That would equal 78%, overall.
If the current rate of increase is followed, that would bring the council up to $12,727 on Jan. 6, 2026.
Those voting for the $2,000-a-year raise in June were councilors Ty Waterman, Laura Dolan, Kelly Bennett, Diana Holmes, Sara Lynn Reynolds and Michael Angelo.
Councilor Peter Blais said being a councilor is more about serving the community than money.
“It’s for the love of Attleboro,” he said on Tuesday. “I don’t think anyone is here for the financial benefits.”
He argued the health insurance coverage was reason enough to serve.
“The insurance factor alone is tremendous,” he said.
Councilors pay about 25% of the cost of the health insurance.
Blais disputed Conti on the “thankless job” statement.
“It’s not a thankless job,” he said. “I’m sure we all get thanked for the things we do.”
In June, Conti argued the amount was too small.
He described the increases as a “Band-Aid” and argued the increase should be to $20,000. He amended the motion to reflect the increase, but the motion was defeated on a 7-3 vote. At that time, Conti said a $2,000 increase over the next three years means that the councilors would still be “underpaid and underappreciated.”
