BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- Potential salary raises for county legislators may come before the Finance Committee Meeting Monday.

St. Lawrence County legislators are expected to vote on a resolution regarding the potential raises during tonight’s Finance Committee meeting. 

According to the resolution, legislators will see an increase from $12,000 to $15,000 per year, while committee chairs will see an increase from $12,000 to $16,000. 

The vice chair will see an increase from $14,000 to $17,000 and the chair would see an increase from $17,000 to $20,000. 

The resolution is sponsored by Lightfoot and co-sponsored by Legislators Rick Perkins and Nicole Terminelli, both of whom sat on the committee chaired by Lightfoot. 

"The Compensation Committee considered many variables, including salaries of legislators and supervisors across New York State, additional committee obligations of Legislators, and benefit contributions and cost," the resolution reads. 

Legislators said the non-legislative members of the committee met separately and recommended an increase in salary for each category, while also adding a new category of committee chairs for the jurisdictional committees. 

As part of the resolution, the committee also recommended an annual 3% increase in 2028, 2029 and 2030. 

Compensation would then be reviewed again in 2029 for the following term of the board, slated to begin in 2031. 

The resolution comes roughly one week after Democratic Party Chair Mike Zagrobelny raised concerns with the potential raises and the leak of information from an executive session.

Zagrobelny spoke with North Country This Week regarding the matter, saying he had multiple issues with the discussion and raises. 

He said topics such as raises for legislators should not be discussed in executive session, but rather in public where constituents are privy to the conversation. 

“There are clear rules that govern executive sessions, what can be discussed in those sessions and what needs to be discussed in public. If legislators want to discuss giving themselves raises, that needs to be done in public session. I for one believe that they are fairly compensated for their service and shouldn’t vote on raises,” he said. 

Zagrobelny also pointed to health insurance options for legislators as well, which can vest after turning 55-years-old if they have served on the board 15 years. 

“That is a very generous benefit they receive and adds to their compensation package and another reason I feel a raise is not necessary for their public service,” he said. 

Health insurance options have been on the books for several years, with some retired legislators eligible for Medicare Part B reimbursements as well, depending on service dates. 

Finance Committee Chairman Joseph Lightfoot, who also chairs the compensation review committee,  did not provide specific details on the discussion in question, as not to violate the privilege of the executive session, but admitted that a topic was discussed that should not have been.

“Yes there was a mistake. That’s on my shoulders, but it was not an attempt to hide anything,” he said. “No vote was taken.”

In regard to the compensation proposal planned for discussion Monday, Lightfoot did confirm that the compensation review committee formed in August was reviewing salaries of legislators and that information will be brought forward tonight at the county’s finance committee meeting.

Lightfoot said the compensation committee was convened in August using the same committee that looked at legislature salaries in 2018. Convening the committee was discussed in open session.

St. Lawrence County Chairman Dave Forsythe said the committee was tasked with reviewing salaries of lawmakers, department heads and administrative staff alike. 

Legislators currently receive $12,000 per year for service and the option to buy into the county’s health insurance program.

 The last time the compensation committee convened, the recommendation was to raise it from $9,000 to $17,000, however, legislators at the time decided that was too much, and opted to raise it $12,000 annually instead.

When legislators vote to increase their pay, the hike doesn’t take effect until the next term. That means if a raise was approved this year, it would take effect Jan. 1, otherwise it would not become effective for five years.

Members of the Committee include Lightfoot as well as Democratic Legislator Nicole Terminelli, Republican Legislator Rick Perkins.

With early voting now underway , the potential for  legislators to vote for their own raises is raising eyebrows.

Some commenters pointed out a disconnect as fuel prices remain high throughout the county and families are struggling to pay for groceries. 

Pantries throughout the county are seeing more traffic than ever, while home heating fuel costs remain over $5.50 per gallon throughout much of the county. 

St. Lawrence County also charges a 4% tax on home heating fuel.

While Lightfoot acknowledged his error in the executive session, it appears someone present at the session leaked information to another party, which is also a concern.

County officials declined to offer comment regarding that situation or if an investigation was being considered.

Meanwhile, online comments from residents pointed to an increasing budget from the county as well. 

Despite tax rates decreasing by 32 center per $1,000 of assessed value, a $32 per year savings on a $100,000 home, residents said spending has begun to spiral out of control. 

Last year, legislators adopted a $334 million budget that included an increase in the levy of $3.5 million.