Councilors to Debate City Manager Salary Increase

Newport City Council members will vote on a proposed $5,000, or 3.7 percent, salary increase for Newport City Manager Jane Howington during Wednesday's city council meeting. In a proposed amendment to the employment contract, introduced by Mayor Harry Winthrop, the salary would be brought up to $140,000, effective July 1. This is the first salary review since her contract was signed on Jan. 9, 2012.

Benefits of the employment contract include: 20 vacation days and 30 sick days annually; a car allowance including insurance, maintenance and repairs; 80 percent of health care premiums; life insurance; an annual $5,000 of deferred compensation for deposit into a retirement account.

To pass the amendment, four votes are required. As of Monday, Winthrop and Councilor Justin McLaughlin stated they were in support; Councilor Michael Farley is opposed; Councilors Marco Camacho and Kate Leonard are undecided; Councilor Jeanne Marie was unavailable for comment; Councilor Naomi Neville will be absent at the time of the vote.

“This was a tough budget cycle we just went through,” said Camacho, referring to the recent budget approval that increased property taxes by 3.07 percent. “However, there are strong arguments both for and against the 3.7 percent increase,” he added. Camacho said he is going to “keep an open mind” on Wednesday.   

McLaughlin said he “fully supports” the proposed increase.

“Since her arrival in January 2012, Ms. Howington has been a strong leader and has taken important steps to enhance and improve municipal service delivery and to achieve cost-savings and efficiencies in many areas,” said McLaughlin.

Although the proposed salary increase is higher than the 1.8 percent granted to all other city employees this year, McLaughlin said that is, in part, due to the fact that the increase comes 17 months after the initial contract was signed. 

Councilor Michael Farley said he would not support the $5000 increase.

“The city manager is still in the middle of a three-year contract which makes her the third highest-paid city manager in the state,” said Farley. “I think the current compensation is appropriate.”

Winthrop pointed out the city manager’s responsibilities extend beyond that of most municipalities, such as the management of the water and sewer division. 

“You can’t just compare this role to city managers in other communities,” said the mayor.