Molino gets raise on 7-1 council vote
Without discussion, but with one dissenting vote, the Batavia City Council tonight approved a 2.8 percent pay raise for City Manager Jason Molino.
The vote came following a closed session and before the vote, Council President Charlie Mallow read a statement expressing the council's support for Molino.
Councilman Bill Cox voted no and said after the meeting his decision was based on a "personnel matter" and wouldn't reveal the reason for his no vote.
"I felt at this time a raise was not in order and that's all I want to say," Cox said.
Mallow characterized the pay increase as a cost-of-living raise that Molino wouldn't have gotten if he didn't deserve it.
Prior to the vote, Mallow said, each council member submitted a review of Molino's work.
“The city is in good shape and a lot of that has to do with our city manager," Mallow said. "The council supports the city manager and that’s the reason for the raise."
The motion passed 7-1, with Council Bob Bialkowski absent.
Molino was also not at the meeting.
UPDATE: Councilman Cox released this statement this morning:
"The primary reason that I voted against the raise for City Manager Molino is the same reason I voted against the raises for the other non-union staff previously, which is economics.
Our citizens and taxpayers have heavy burdens of property taxes, school taxes, and water/sewer taxes. We have property owners and citizens who have lost their jobs due to the economy. We have retired people on pensions that have been reduced and those same retired citizens have lost health benefits or had them reduced in many cases.
When you are in a position of senior management and leadership you should demonstrate to the people that you understand the dire circumstances many are under and forgo a raise until the economy turns around."