Should Braintree Councilors Get More Money for More Work?

Braintree Town Councilor Paul "Dan" Clifford last week withdrew a proposal to examine an additional stipend for councilors who serve on the most active committee, Ways & Means, which has oversight of the town budget. 

Clifford originally said increasing the councilors' pay may act as an incentive to committee participation, but on second thought said that it should be the residents of Braintree and not councilors who decide on pay.

From the start of this year through Oct. 15, the Committee on Ways & Means had held 39 meetings, compared to 19 for Rules & Ordinance, 12 for Public Works, five for Personnel Issues, one for Education & Library, and zero for Public Safety, Parks & Recreation, Elder Affairs & Veterans Services, according to data provided by Council Clerk Jim Casey.

Each councilor in Braintree receives a $5,000 annual stipend and is eligible for town health insurance. The council president receives $7,500.

In Quincy, councilors earn $22,300 (combined stipend and auto allowance) and in Weymouth they get $7,500. The council chair in Weymouth gets an extra $2,000 and the finance committee chair an extra $1,000. In Randolph, councilors do not get a stipend.

What do you think? Should Braintree councilors earn more for work on an active committee? Should the entire council get a raise, or is public service enough of a reward in itself? Tell us in the comments below.