Russel Richardson is the chair of the Officers Compensation Board. Courtesy | FOX 47 News

Acting Mayor Joshua Paladino said he opposes a proposal by the Officers Compensation Committee to increase the pay for the mayor and members of the city council.

The Hillsdale City Council will vote April 21 on the recommendations, which would raise the mayor’s pay from $3,000 to $25,000 per year and the salaries for members of the Hillsdale City Council from $1,000 to $10,000. 

“I’m opposed to the pay raise for the mayor and council,” Paladino said in an online post.

The compensation board voted 3-2 on Thursday to recommend the changes, which would be the first increase in 10 years. 

In discussions at the city council meeting April 7, the chair of the committee, Russell Richardson, said salaries should rise to allow residents who make less to serve on the council.

“Right now, it’s only open to people who can afford to take the time off of work,” Richardson said. “We want to make public service accessible to everyone and that means it needs to be something that is paid.”

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