NORWICH – After facing backlash at a public hearing held in August, the Norwich Common Council is set to vote on a self pay increase at next month’s council meeting.

Council members are considering a pay bump for themselves and the city mayor, something city officials haven’t done in more than three decades. The proposal contradicts some taxpayers who are urging the council to reconsider before voting on a resolution on Sept. 16.

The contingent raise calls for an increase to council members’ annual stipend, from the current $4,000 per year to $5,000 per year; and for the part-time city mayor position, from $16,210 to $20,000 per year.

Mayor Brian Doliver first brought a resolution before the city council in June, making the case that a pay increase may encourage more people to run for public office. It would be the first raise for the city mayor since 1994, and the first for council members since 1989. The resolution, however, was tabled by the council in order to create two separate resolutions that detached a pay increase for the mayor from an increase for city aldermen.

The two proposals require a change to the city charter and would grow the city’s appropriation for the common council by $6,000. Added to the pay raise for the mayor, the city would see a “minimal increase” of less than $10,000 annually in the general budget, said Doliver.

Regardless, the idea drew criticism from some Norwich residents who spoke during a public hearing at August’s Common Council meeting.

“I don’t believe the caliber of current candidates in office, or those seeking elective office, are drawn to public service by the salary. Or at least, in my opinion, that should not be the driving force,” said Norwich resident Christine Carnrike who also served as Norwich Mayor from 2016-2019.

Carnrike strongly cautioned the council to consider the needs of essential city services, including the fire department which recently withdrew money from the city’s reserve accounts for equipment repairs.

If approved by the council, raises will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026, or 45 days from the council’s adoption, whichever occurs later.

Doliver said he has “no personal agenda” in a proposed pay raise because he has no intentions of seeking another term.