City Councilor Ed Symbol has proposed cutting the salary of Westbrook’s elected city clerk to create assistant positions to fulfill some of the duties of the clerk, and he might have some support from Mayor Bruce Chuluda.
Symbol proposed the change during a budget and finance committee meeting May 24, two days after residents voted to keep the city clerk an elected position, rather than change it to an appointed one.
“I struggle with paying an elected official $60,000 a year,” Symbol said at the meeting, adding that Maine’s governor makes $70,000. Because the city’s budget is going through committee, Symbol said he wants to move the process along quickly.
Barbara Hawkes, Westbrook’s city clerk, noted that people are already talking about running for the position next fall, so the council should move to make the change quickly if it were to be made.
But Hawkes, who has held the city clerk’s position for 14 years and plans to retire after her term is up, said she does not agree with Symbol’s proposed change. Hawkes also wanted to clarify that her salary is $49,000 plus benefits, not $60,000.
Chuluda agreed with Symbol. “I too struggle with the compensation,” Chuluda said at the meeting. Symbol suggested that the clerk’s office should function as the mayor’s office does. The mayor, an elected official, receives a $6,500 annual stipend for his position, while other hired officials such as the city administrator receive salaries.
Symbol admitted that he wasn’t sure what the result of May 22 referendum meant, and wondered whether the vote was to keep the position exactly as is, or simply to keep the position held by a Westbrook resident while allowing for the position to be “tweaked.” Symbol hopes the public will engage the council on the question.
John O’Hara, speaking against Symbol’s desire to remove the clerk’s salary, voiced concern that such a move would come so soon after a citywide referendum on the clerk’s position.
“Maybe we’ve been told which direction to go,” O’Hara said at the committee meeting, “Maybe that’s to stay the course.”
Councilor Drew Gattine warned against “reading into the tea leaves” on a yes or no vote.
Deputy Clerk Ruthie Noble said she had mixed feelings about Symbol’s proposal, but said she didn’t know enough to comment on the specifics of such a plan.
No action was taken at the finance and budget committee’s meeting, and discussions are likely to resume at the June 4 city council meeting. If the proposal does go forward, it would likely happen in time to reflect the change in next year’s budget that is under review.
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