A proposed $7,000 pay hike for Wildwood Police Chief Paul Valentino sparked opposition Monday from Mayor Ed Wolf at a meeting of the Wildwood City Commission.
The increase would have raised Valentino’s annual salary to $92,000. After serving as deputy chief for eight years, Valentino received a raise to $85,000 from $78,000 when he was promoted in June. He received the same salary as the retiring chief.
After vigorous debate, the commission reached a compromise, delaying consideration of the proposed increase until Valentino completes his six-month probationary period later this year.
City Administrator Jason McHugh said the raise would be part of a three-year employment contract.
But Wolf called the proposal irresponsible, coming just nine days after the city’s fiscal year budget took effect.
“I don’t see how we can justify this,” he said. “I think it’s a slap to the former chief.”
The mayor said a decision was made in June to promote Valentino from within the department when the city could have received a flurry of applications if the position had been advertised.
“I’m trying to keep a tight rein here on how we spend taxpayer dollars,” Wolf said. “As a curator of the taxpayer’s dollar, I’ve been through some tough times. Now that times are better, I just don’t want to start spending money like a drunken sailor.”
Commissioner Joe Elliott supported the raise, saying that it would be an adjustment to bring the chief’s salary in line with other cities. It would be in the mid-range of the amount recommended by a recent study of city employee salaries.
“I think we have an opportunity here,” he said. “People live up to your expectations. They also live down to your expectations.”
Commissioner Julian Green said the retired chief also might have received the same salary adjustment if he had remained on the job.
Valentino, who attended the meeting and watched the debate, said afterward that he had no comment.
Commissioner Don Clark, a former Wildwood police chief, suggested the compromise to delay approval of the proposed salary hike until after Valentino completes his probation.
“I think Chief Valentino doesn’t like all this controversy,” he said. “He just wants to be a police chief. He wants to do a good job for us.”
