COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, October 8, 2003 10:10 a.m. - - - BILL NO. 030641 - An Ordinance amending Chapter 10 20-300 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Compensation," by increasing the salaries of elected City officials and amending the provisions for annual cost of living salary adjustments - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center Plaza, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 BILL NO. 030641 - 10/8/03
We will now go into the Public Hearing of the Committee of the Whole regarding Bill No. 030641. Mr. McPherson, please read the title. MR. McPHERSON: Ordinance No. 030641, an ordinance amending Chapter 20-300 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Compensation, "by increasing the salaries of elected city officials and amending the provisions for annual cost of living salary adjustments, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. Do we have anyone to testify on this bill? We have no one to testify on this bill. Councilman Nutter, do you want to be recognized?
Thank you, Madam President. I will be very brief. Madam President, I know that information was circulated last week in this regard. But I did at least want to point out for the record, Madam President, that of course this is always a delicate matter. But I at least want to make sure the record 3 BILL NO. 030641 - 10/8/03 is clear about comparable cities and other members of City Council in those various cities and their respective salaries. Now, it is reported, has been reported in the news media, that the salary for a member of City Council in New York City, for example, is $90,000. And that is correct. That is the base. But we also find that 41 of the 51 members of City Council in New York have enhanced compensation by their either Chairing a committee or a major subcommittee in New York. Which, if you Chair a committee, your additional compensation is $15,000. So the majority of members of the New York City Council, their actual total compensation is approximately $105,000. Secondly, with regard to our sister city in Chicago, their Council not too long ago passed a similar compensation ordinance which had a multi-tiered series of raises, such that the proposed raise for members of Council here in Philadelphia is the same rate that Chicago will be paying its Council Members in two years as set by ordinance. 4 BILL NO. 030641 - 10/8/03 Lastly, I would finally note for the record, Madam President, that there are approximately 400 public employees who presently make the same compensation that members of City Council do today. And they are all hard-working public employees, but I at least wanted to set some context for where we are and the comparables for other people who are public servants who are working hard to serve the public. So I just wanted to add those items to the record as we move through this delicate process. Thank you, Madam President.
You are welcome, Councilman. Are there any other comments or questions from members of the committee? Do we have anyone who would like to testify on this bill? I would ask again. Anyone to testify? Please approach the witness table, sir. Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning. My name 5 BILL NO. 030641 - 10/8/03 is Tom Zmartis. I am the business agent for Local 222 under District Council 33. And I would just like to have Council remember us when June comes next year with our contract. That's all. And 47. Thank you.
Thank you. Since we don't have any other witnesses, the Chair now recognizes Councilman Nutter. I am sorry. This will conclude our Public Hearing. - - - 6 PUBLIC MEETING COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Wednesday, October 8, 2003 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee of the Whole, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILL 030641 - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO - - - 7 PUBLIC MEETING
We will now go into our public meeting. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell. Either Councilwoman Blackwell or Councilman Nutter will make a motion, please.
Madam President, I move that Bill No. 030641 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and a recommendation for suspension of the Rules so as to permit consideration at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 030641 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, also a recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. Those opposed? The record will reflect that Councilman Goode voted no. All other members voted in the affirmative. This concludes our public meeting. Thank you all very much. 8 (Public Meeting adjourned at 10:16 a.m.) - - - 9 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Wednesday October 8, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ____________________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD