Venezia Recommends Pay Raises For Bloomfield Council, Mayor

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Town Council may be getting ready to give its members – and the town’s mayor – their first pay raise in decades.

During this week’s council meeting, former mayor Michael Venezia – who was recently sworn in to his new post as a New Jersey assembly member – recommended that the council “get the ball rolling” on an ordinance that would give themselves a pay bump.

“Since this is my last meeting, I felt that I should start the ball rolling to increase the mayor and council compensation,” Venezia said.

In 1984, the salaries stood at $7,000, and that’s where they still are today, Venezia said.

“I am giving a recommendation of raising the council salary to $12,000 a year and the mayor salary to $18,000 a year,” he said, telling his former colleagues that “the ball is in your court.”

Venezia added that he is also recommending that future raises be tied to the Consumer Price Index to adjust for inflation on a yearly basis.

A council ordinance would have to be passed on first and second readings to finalize any salary raises. The issue is expected to be raised again at the next council meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.

Two council members commented on Venezia’s recommendation on Monday.

Nicholas Joanow – the council’s senior member at 15 years of service – thanked Venezia for broaching the topic. He acknowledged that asking the public for a pay increase isn’t always a popular idea. But it’s something that’s long overdue, he said.

“I don't think anyone but anyone would accept a job position with the understanding that you would remain at that same salary for 15 years,” Joanow said, asking Bloomfield residents to “walk in our shoes” and recognize that his peers often devote time on the weekends and evenings to their jobs as council members.

Joanow added that council members are often asked to make contributions to local charities and attend community events on their own dime.

Councilwoman Wartyna Davis – who said she wasn’t aware that a seat on the council comes with a stipend when she first ran for office – also spoke in favor of raising council and mayor salaries in Bloomfield.

According to Davis, if the current salaries had been adjusted for inflation since the last time they were raised, they would be at nearly $21,000.

Davis also acknowledged that raises for local elected officials can easily become a political issue, and that “you don't want it to be weaponized in a way against you.”

“But I think it does benefit us to really think about how to do this in a fair way,” she said.

Council meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on second floor of the municipal building, 1 Municipal Plaza.

Watch footage from the Jan. 8 meeting below, or view it online here (video is cued to the discussion about salaries).

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