Pay raise for Cape mayor’s assistant fails to pass
The mayor’s executive assistant, Kelley Fernandez, will not be getting a 5 percent raise after city council shot down the proposal at a special meeting Thursday night.
Mayor John Sullivan wanted to give her the raise because she has, among other skills, excellent communication, she works well with the public, has a positive attitude, is a fast study, can multi-task, and is great at problem solving.
“I’ve got nothing but praise for the work she’s done,” Sullivan said.
The pay raise found the dais in a 4-4 deadlock, which meant the motion to approve the raise died.
Councilmember Chris Chulakes-Leetz, who voted against the pay raise, said he respected and valued Fernandez, but didn’t feel it fiscally prudent to grant the raise when so many in the city are taking on extra tasks.
“I’m concerned because there’s a lot of people who work for this city who deserve a raise,” Chulakes-Leetz said.
Councilmember Erick Kuehn said Fernandez deserves the raise because she always “goes the extra mile” and “never talks back”.
If he were still in insurance, Kuehn said he would hire her with a salary of $50,000 a year.
“If I were still in the insurance business I would hire her in a minute,” Kuehn said.
Councilmember Kevin McGrail said giving Fernandez the raise would have “unintended consequences”.