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The Council's Salary-Raise Hypocrisy The Hillside Township Council will soon be voting to give themselves a pay raise. But their reasoning for doing so is a bit ironic, considering history. In 1999, when much of the current Council sat under opposing Mayor Barbara Rowen, the councilmembers refused to compensate Rowen for her work. RELATED COVERAGE Pay Raises for Pols More Perks on the Way? Living Off Taxpayers Council's Audacity Rowen served her term without pay, even though she worked at it on a full-time basis. Rowen's salary request was $8,000 - but she was refused by the Council. Then Council Vice-President Lenny Gilbert argued that the mayor did not deserve to get any more than the Council's $5,500. A few months later, when Rowen left office and the Council appointed their colleague Karen McCoy-Oliver to be Mayor, the same Council awarded Oliver a $10,000 salary! Gilbert was among those who voted in favor of the Mayor's raise. He no doubt will be voting in favor of his own. What was the difference between McCoy-Oliver and Rowen? Well, Oliver was the Council's ally and Rowen was not. So, now as the Council argues their need for more of taxpayers' money, we can see that their motives are not about "need" but about taking care of themselves and of their own.

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