Projo Politics Blog

It was not a packed public hearing, but the notion of big raises for select state workers in this economic climate drew sharp words last week from some corners.

Robert Benson, vice president of the advocacy group Operation Clean Government, called on Department of Administration Director Gary Sasse to withdraw proposed salary increases for the chief state medical examiner, deputy chief examiner and others.

"First of all, for these hearings to be announced with practically no notice goes against the idea of transparent and open government," Benson said in a statement last week. "Where was it announced or posted? We feel Mr. Sasse is not operating in good faith when he schedules these types of hearings with minimal notice."

Added Operation Clean Government board member Larry Valencia: With "the governor is calling for mandatory time off for state employees to reduce spending ... we believe it is irresponsible for these positions to be granted such large increases during a time of fiscal crisis in Rhode Island. With the state facing huge deficits, how can these huge increases be justified?''

Benson said, "We would like Mr. Sasse to take our complaints to heart: to better serve his customers, the hard-working taxpayers of Rhode Island, he needs to provide more time for public comment, and he needs to be judicious and apply fiscal restraint."

The hearings on Tuesday and Thursday of last week centered on proposed salary increases for the chief medical examiner and deputy examiner; the executive director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and newly created posts within the Coastal Resources Management Council of "marine infrastructure coordinator'' at a starting salary of $64,563, and prevailing wage investigator(s),'' at a starting salary of $37,460

Barring a last-minute turnabout by the administration, the hearing set the stage for a $17,000 raise for the chief medical examiner, Dr. Thomas Gilson, to what is being described as a "more competitive" $193,514 salary; a $4,130 raise for emergency management chief James D. Smith, from $85,220 to $89,350, and a boost in the starting pay for a deputy chief medical examiner from $150,735 to $168,956 for "recruitment purposes.''

There was no immediate response from Sasse.

 Tags  Gary Sasse medical examiner Operation Clean Government

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