ASHTABULA — Five days after promising a radio audience he would take a 10 percent pay cut and give back his 3.5 percent raise, the city manager took action Monday.
City Manager Anthony Cantagallo agreed to defer this year’s raise until Jan. 1, 2011, and to reduce his compensation to 90 percent of his 2009 annual salary for 2010, retroactive to March 1.
That means he will, in effect, be cutting his salary by 13.5 percent until the beginning of next year, taking home $67,832 instead of $75,369. But, he will get the 3.5 percent back in a lump sum in January.
No other city employee has had a raise in two years. Consequently, Vice President Betty Kist said she was very disappointed about the deferment.
“I wanted to take that deferment out (of the ordinance),” she said.
During the precouncil meeting, when Kist said she wanted to throw the deferment out of the ordinance, Cantagallo and City Solicitor Michael Franklin adamantly opposed it.
Franklin said he was giving up 10 percent just like council’s six employees.
Ward 5 Councilman James Trisket said he considered it to be a generous offer.
“They’re taking a 10 percent pay cut that will not be returned to them,” Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Lattimer said.
Cantagallo told a radio audience Wednesday he would take a pay cut and give back his raise by 4:30 p.m. that day, but he didn’t do it. He did, however, talk the city solicitor into taking a 10 percent pay cut, instead of 5 percent on Monday.
When asked after the precouncil meeting about the hike in his pay cut, Franklin half-jokingly said, “The city manager shamed me into it.”
Franklin agreed to the 10 percent cut and will defer his raise until January, he said. His assistant solicitor, Lori Lamer, will take a 10 percent pay cut, he said.
Council Clerk LaVette Hennigan, one of the six salaried employees under council’s direction who took a 10 percent pay cut, asked council for a meeting to consider a contract.
“I understand the 3.5 percent deferral, but we would like a chance to meet with council,” she said.
Kist and Lattimer said they were agreeable to the idea.
Under public comment, Main Avenue businessman John Ginnard charged Cantagallo was guilty of malfeasance and asked for his resignation.
“You continually ignore the needs of the city,” he said. “Today you finally presented your 10 percent pay cut that you said you would do last Wednesday ... You always say you are going to do things and you don’t do it... I ask for your resignation.”
“No comment,” Cantagallo said.
Ginnard asked council to review the issue of malfeasance, otherwise he will begin a recall of the city manager.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Cantagallo cuts pay
He will lose 10 percent of salary, pay hike will be given in one lump sum in January
- Local News
-
-
Conneaut’s development headquarters takes shape
A small building two blocks from Lake Erie could become Conneaut’s economic development headquarters before the start of summer.
-
Sheriff’s detectives net two active meth labs
Acting on a tip, Ashtabula County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies uncovered an active methamphetamine lab Friday afternoon, according to Lt. Van Robison.
-
Former Ashtabula resident killed in car crash Tuesday
Ashley N. Penwell, 22, formerly of East Fourth St., Ashtabula, was pronounced dead at the scene of a Tuesday car crash on Charleston Pike Road in Chillicothe.
-
Ashtabula County is near top in 2011 bear sightings
Ashtabula County finished second in the number of black bear sightings reported in Ohio last year, according to a report from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
-
Break-in results in felony charges
A Conneaut man faces two felony charges stemming from a break-in at a vacant Cleveland Court house earlier this week, according to Conneaut Municipal Court records.
-
Conneaut Middle School’s Goodwill drive big success
Students and staff at Conneaut Middle School responded in a big way to a plea for donations issued late last month by Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula.
-
ACMC teams up with Goodwill on Valentine’s Day
This Valentine’s Day, area residents are encouraged to show their love by cleaning out their closets and heading over to Ashtabula County Medical Center.
-
Presses stopped: Updated with video
It was June 23, 1969.
-
Murder suspect kills self at mother’s grave
Madison Township police officers found the body of a murder suspect in the Alexander Harper Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, ending a day-long, multi-county manhunt.
-
Commissioners pay to get the business
Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $15,000 contract with Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County to provide business service representation on behalf of the county’s One-Stop job training center.
- More Local News Headlines
-
