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Paterson mayor Sayegh’s chief of staff gets 11-percent pay increase | Paterson Times

Paterson mayor Sayegh’s chief of staff gets 11-percent pay increase

andre-sayegh

Mayor Andre Sayegh’s chief of staff Kathleen Long received an 11-percent raise, according to government records.

Long’s salary was increased from $90,000 to $100,000. She had been hired by the mayor in Jul. 2018.

“She took a pay cut when she accepted the position of chief of staff here,” said Sayegh. She had taken a $10,000 pay cut, he said. “She was willing to take a pay cut because she wanted to be a part of the team, part of the progress of Paterson.”

Long did not respond to a message for comment.

“She’s done a lot of the heavy lifting,” said the mayor. He cited the health insurance program change from self-insurance to state plan which will save millions in the coming years and the sewer billing reforms. “Her work ethic is unparalleled. She’s indefatigable and efficient. She’s productive.”

Sayegh pointed out Long is a Patersonian.

“She does more than a normal staffer. She puts in a lot of work,” said Flavio Rivera, councilman at-large, chairman of the finance committee. “She deserves the increase based on what she’s been doing.”

“She’s been very effective in her operations,” added William McKoy, 3rd Ward councilman.

Still, Rivera wanted to see a justification for the increase. He wanted to know whether it was based on her work or based on extra responsibilities assigned to her.

Sayegh’s administration raised taxes and sewer fees on property owners in the current fiscal year.

“It’s budget neutral,” said Sayegh speaking of Long’s increase. He said the retirement of desk secretary Alana Onorato at the mayor’s office freed up $71,000. A portion of it was used for Long’s pay increase.

McKoy questioned the wisdom of giving out pay increases even before a full year has elapsed since the hiring. He said an effort should be made to cut expenses permanently rather than spending money that is freed up.

Last year, the City Council pushed through pay increases for eight clerks, giving each a $10,000 raise. McKoy pointed out that was done after the city identified the duties of the clerks. Some of them were working out of title. Once the duties and responsibilities were identified each clerk was assigned the correct title of administrative secretary which has a higher base salary than keyboarding clerk.

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  • Plumber

    How generous is the mayor giving her an increase mayor said she took a pay cut to be part of the team does a lot of heavy lifting ok yea that's expected from every working individual to put in 110% into your job aren't we a distressed city and the mayor is giving out pay raises like Skittles very generous with other people's money how about giving tax payers a break paterson government is highly and totally corrupt from the mayor down paterson voters need to wake up and stop voting these POS politicians into office that only look out for themselves and their friends and fuck the rest of patersons hard working God fearing tax paying citizens

    • bigron

      It's the nine month splurge. I can't remember the last time I was given a pay raise not even one year into a job, can you?

      • Plumber

        Nope I know I've worked my ass off for a couple of years before I got my first raise of two dollars never heard of anyone receiving a ten thousand dollars a year raise in less than a year

        • bigron

          You and me need to get with the program and sign up for Sayegh administration jobs.

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