HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — After Hollywood commissioners voted to give themselves a raise in early July, one of them agreed to explain it to Local 10 News on Wednesday at City Hall.
Hollywood Commissioner Peter Hernandez, who represents the city’s District 2, made the motion to raise commissioners’ pay by 34.7% -- from about $50,430 to about $70,000.
Hernandez considered the pay of the neighboring Fort Lauderdale officials. The motion included assignment pay for the commissioners who serve on county and state boards, and health insurance for commissioners after their term ends.
“This is not a part-time; this is a full-time job,” Hernandez said. “And, you get calls every day of the week at any given time of those days.”
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy released a statement via text message to explain his raise by 82% -- from $53,275 to $100,000 -- and said the measure will not be reconsidered.
“The City Commission’s compensation resolution is an investment in stronger, more representative leadership for Hollywood by aligning pay with the 24/7 demands of governing a city of more than 150,000 residents,” the mayor wrote.
Hernandez said the commission discussed the raise in public meetings for “quite a while” before Commissioner Adam Gruber seconded his motion on the night of July 2.
Commissioners Kevin Biederman, Traci Callari, Gruber, Hernandez, and Mayor Levy voted in support of the raise. Commissioners Caryl Shuham and Idelma Quintana voted against it.
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