EASTHAMPTON — With a busy agenda to run, City Council President Homar Gomez oversaw his final City Council meeting before he begins work as the new state representative for the 2nd Hampshire District.
“It was a privilege for me serving you in this capacity,” said Gomez. “We love the same city.”
Gomez recalled that he was initially concerned about how people would react to his accent and ethnicity, but that he felt very welcomed by the city and will be taking what he has learned on the city council to his new job in the state Legislature.
Gomez received praise from several fellow councilors and other city employees, as well as in a short speech given by his wife who noted his drive and how he earned the trust of his community.
Salem Derby, vice president of the council, noted the “significant impact” that Gomez has had during his time on the council and extended his “heartfelt congratulations” to Gomez on his new role.
Fiscal concerns occupied much of the meeting, with councilors upholding the mayor’s veto of a salary increase for that position, voting to increase the stipend of school committee members to $6,000 and voting against raising the councilors’ stipend.
The proposed increase for school committee members generated much discussion about how challenging the position has been for school committee members over the last couple of years, the specific regulations that it must navigate and the amount of work members do.
Councilor Brad Riley advocated for equity in the stipends of the School Committee members and councilors, noting that at the current stipend amount of $4,000 for school committee members, and the much lower amounts in recent years, the councilors have been making almost twice as much as the School Committee members. He also noted that he would abstain from voting because a school committee member sits on the board with him at Tapestry Health.
Councilor Thomas Peake, chair of the finance committee, noted that the city is in “tight financial times” but that he also has “a level of discomfort” with the pay disparity and that the idea that the city council works harder than the school committee is “silly.”
Councilor Koni Denham noted her full support of the increase in stipend, recalling that she argued for it two years ago but that her fellow councilors “said it’s a hierarchy.”
Ultimately, the council voted 7-1, with Riley abstaining and Councilor Owen Zaret voting against, to increase the school committee member stipend to $6,000 for all members and $6,500 for the chair of the school committee. The increase will begin on Jan. 2, 2026.
Throughout a lengthy conversation about increasing the stipend of city councilors, most noted that the increase to $10,000 was too much.
Councilor Tamara Smith noted that she had never heard a councilor complain about the stipend. Councilor Jason “JT” Tirrell noted that although the compensation is probably less than minimum wage, “If you’re doing this for the money, then you shouldn’t be doing this.”
In a closer vote, the council upheld the mayor’s veto of an increase to that salary gradually over the next four years, After confirming that the mayor would veto any increase because of fiscal concerns, the council voted 5-4 to let the veto stand. This means that the mayoral salary will remain at $90,000 through 2029.
Those who are interested in being appointed to Gomez’s now empty seat should submit a letter of interest to the city clerk by Jan. 7. On Jan. 13, the council will hold a special meeting for candidates to speak about their reasons for being appointed and be asked questions by the councilors. The public can then submit input until Jan. 15, when the council will meet again to vote on its next member.
