Young Entrepreneurs Sought

Abraham Rosenbaum

By KASIA KOPEC kkopec@leader.net
 Tuesday, February 03, 2004 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE - Mayor Tom Leighton said he would gladly forego a budgeted
salary increase and pay 30 percent of his health insurance costs, if members
of the city's four unions would agree to the same. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I don't like to negotiate in public, but I was the one who went to them
(union officials) and proposed the wage freeze and the 30 percent copays,''
said Leighton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``And I told them it would start at the top - it would start with me, the
other elected officials and my managers,'' he added. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton's proposed 2004 budget includes pay increases of 3.7 percent for
all elected officials, including a bump of about $2,800 for the mayor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The raises are in accordance with the city charter, which stipulates
elected officials receive raises equal to the lowest rate increase for
unionized city workers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Two unions, Teamsters Local 401 and International Association of
Firefighters Local 104, are working under the terms of expired contracts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton said the budgeted increases for officials are based on those
contained in the Police Benevolent Association's contract, which runs through
2007. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The mayor stressed that the increases for elected officials - including
approximately $500 for each the city's seven council members - have yet to
take effect. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I have people saying, `How could you give yourself a raise?' But I
haven't given myself anything,'' said Leighton. ``And I haven't given council
anything. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The increases are based on the lowest negotiated union contract.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If the raises go into effect, Leighton would draw a salary of $78,121. His
current salary is $75,324. Council members would see their part-time salaries
increase from $12,441 to $12,903. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City managers would also receive raises of 3.7 percent, while city
attorneys Tim Henry and Bill Vinsko will get significantly higher boosts in
pay. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton said Henry and Vinsko have taken on additional work and their
raises, $4,600 and $9,400 respectively, reflect that change. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We're not going to be contracting out legal work like was done in the
past,'' said Leighton. ``Everything I can have done within City Hall, will be
done within City Hall.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As for the status of negotiations with the city's unions, Leighton said
talks are continuing and he is hopeful agreements can be reached on benefits
and wages. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We have to get some type of concessions, we have to,'' he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So far, union representatives have indicated they aren't interested in
concessions, and Leighton's pledge to accept the same deal doesn't appear to
carry much weight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Asked recently of the prospect of elected officials agreeing to premium
sharing, Firefighters Local 104 President Tom Makar said, ``I really don't
care. I'm worried about my 83 members - that's enough to worry about.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kasia Kopec, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7436. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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W-b Finances Mayor Offers To Share Pain Leighton Will Nix Raise, Pay For Insurance If Unions Will