The East Providence City Council — four of them, as Ward 2 City Councilwoman Anna Sousa was absent — voted unanimously to approve the first passage of an ordinance to increase the pay received by elected members of the city council. In a separate measure shortly afterwards, they did the same, voting in approval to increase the pay received by the mayor, from $90,000 to $120,000.

Both of those increases, importantly, would not take effect until January of 2027, when the newest iteration of city council members, and possibly a new mayor, would take their seats.

The raise would take city council members pay from $3,500 a year and increase it to $9,000 annually. The council president, who currently makes $4,000, would get a pay bump up to $10,000.

“That amount is far too low,” said Ward 3 Councilman Frank Fogarty, who introduced the ordinance. “Serving on the council is not limited to two meetings a month. It’s constant calls, emails, meetings with constituents, followups on projects, and representing our city every day. Which I do, and I know everybody sitting here does. On top of that we cover our own costs, gas, wear and tear on our vehicles, rising market prices, internet, phones, traffic. We all face the same traveling throughout the city…When you factor in the hours, this stipend does not amount to $3 an hour.”

Fogarty reasoned that the pay increase would serve as a better incentive to attract people into running for a seat, and serving.

“None of us do this for the money, I know that. But fairness matters,” he said. “If the pay remains too low, we risk discouraging good people from stepping up to serve…This adjustment better reflects the responsibilities, time, and real cost of serving East Providence.”

Ward 4 Councilman Rick Lawson seconded the motion to approve, and agreed with Fogarty’s argument.

“One thing I learned from one of my exes is you get what you pay for,” he said. “Public service is tough. You get criticized left and right, you get people that don’t even know you questioning your motives, questioning your character, your integrity. Who the hell would want to do that?”

Lawson said he saw no issue with raising the pay because the current council would not necessarily see the benefits from it.

“We’re not voting ourselves a pay raise,” he said. “Whoever gets these for these seats for the 2027 term, they will be the ones to start receiving $9,000. It has to be raised at some point. So I’m glad you had the courage to bring it forward, despite the criticism we’re going to get.”

Mayor also in line for a pay raise
Fogarty then put forth an ordinance to increase the salary for the mayor from $90,000 a year to $120,000.

He reasoned that the performance of Mayor Bob DaSilva had demonstrated the important role that a mayor plays in East Providence, and how compensating for that role fairly was important.

“Mayor DaSilva has managed the demands of economic challenges, the Washington Bridge crisis, infrastructure disruptions, and rising costs of living. Despite these pressures, he has remained accessible, engaged, and dedicated to improve East Providence. His work has not gone unnoticed by our residents,” Fogarty said. “Given the scope of responsibility required by the office, the increase in demands of city management, and the severe rising costs of living since the position’s salary was last set, it is fair and necessary to adjust the pay for this role. This adjustment ensures that the City of East Providence continues to attract strong leadership and reflects the true value of the position.”

Council President Bob Rodericks said that the salary increase made sense, considering it hadn’t been altered since the office of mayor was first created at the end of 2017. DaSilva was elected the city’s first mayor in November of 2018 and sworn in in January of 2019.

“Again, this is for the subsequent mayor in 2027. Effective, it does not apply to anyone in office right now,” Rodericks said. “I would add that, in addition to what you stated…the position itself as [head] of the fifth- or sixth-largest city in the state, I think it’s much more appropriate than the $90,000 that was set up. It was new. There were reasons to do that at the time. But I think looking at comparable responsibilities statewide, this is certainly an appropriate action for the next person coming in.”

For context, here are the salaries for mayors in the six largest Rhode Island municipalities:

• Providence - $157,206
• Cranston - $105,000
• Warwick - $100,000
• Pawtucket - $130,000 (effective Jan. 1, 2026)
• East Providence - $90,000 ($120,000 if ordinance passes, effective Jan. 1, 2027)
• Woonsocket - $120,000

Notably, Fogarty’s ordinance originally included a guaranteed raise for the mayor’s salary each year, which would be based on the consumer price index.

That was nixed by Councilman Lawson.

“The reason I oppose this, to be very clear, we may have tight financial years,” he said. “You can’t have a built-in raise for the mayor but then tell city workers, sorry, we can’t give you a raise.”

The rest of the council agreed with that change, and the amended ordinance passed unanimously. It will go for a second and official passage at the next council meeting in September.