Executive Session Expected To Be Held To Discuss City Council Pay Increases

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- An executive session of Pittsburgh City Council is set to get underway as soon as today -- where a hot topic surrounding pay increases for council members will be discussed.

City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith has put a freeze on the potential $16,000 pay raise, pending a legal review of the issue.

The decision made in December was done without public discussion and City Controller Michael Lamb claims a 22% pay raise violates the city's Home Rule Charter.

That charter doesn't allow elected officials to receive a raise worth more than the average percentage of city employees, which was around 3% last year.

Kail-Smith says the council will now meet with budget officials, its own attorney, and a city solicitor.

"What I am asking our clerk to do is freeze our pay increase until we have an opportunity to have a legal opinion to clarify any miscommunications or any misunderstandings about the budget," Kail-Smith said.

Kail-Smith has defended the original approval process.

The executive session to discuss the pay hike is expected to happen privately -- as early as Wednesday afternoon.