Salary raise for Port Jeff trustees nixed

A lingering resolution to increase the Port Jefferson trustee salary has been put to rest.

Proposed in August, the effort to raise salaries of the four village trustees from $7,500 to $12,500 died after board members decided financial challenges would make raises seem insensitive.

"I think anybody who sits in these chairs definitely deserves compensation," said Mayor Margot Garant at the board meeting Monday. "But I am really concerned about how it's going to play out."

Deputy Mayor Adrienne Kessel argued the raise was necessary to attract talent. "There's never going to be a good time," she said.

The mayor and trustee positions are part-time, but board members say they devote a lot of time to the positions.

Garant said the village faces budgetary issues stemming from a larger-than-expected employee retirement fund contribution this year.

Another issue is the tax challenge filed by Long Island Power Authority on its Port Jefferson power plant, a major portion of the village's $8.7 million budget.

Another round of layoffs among village employees is a possibility, Garant said.

In October, the trustees voted unanimously in favor of raising the mayor's salary from $10,000 to $19,500.

Also, a public hearing for the village to exceed the state-mandated tax cap was set for March 5.