Last modified: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:13 AM EST Mayor's pay plan angers board BY RICK FOSTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF ATTLEBORO - School committee members say they're not necessarily looking for a pay raise - but they're nonetheless peeved at a proposal they say would permanently set their annual stipends at half of those for city councilors. School board member Jane Larkin said she objects to a proposal now before the council that would set the compensation of a school committee member at 50 percent of the salary for municipal councilors effective in 2008. The proposal was part of a communication sent to the council by Mayor Kevin Dumas Nov. 21. Currently, the school board's salary is set by the council at $2,500 per member - half of a city councilor's annual pay, Larkin. However, the salary level is discretionary. The mayor's proposal would make each school board member's salary legally half of that of a council member. That's not fair, said several board members. "The work load of both jobs is more comparable than people think," said Larkin, who noted that school committee members attend two full committee meetings a month and serve on two subcommittees which hold their own regular meetings. The council has not yet approved the mayor's request. The current provision granting salaries to council and school board members was approved by voters in 1999, Larkin said. She added that the salary probably allows some citizens to consider serving who would otherwise be prevented because of the expense involved. Some committee members said they were in sympathy with Larkin's objection, although individuals differed as to a solution. Chairwoman Robbie Wuilleumier said she agrees that school committee members share a level of work similar to that of councilors, and board member Suzanne Machowski said she supports Larkin's viewpoint. Committee member Frank D'Agostino said he favors equal pay for members of both boards - but not necessarily by giving the school committee a raise. D'Agostino said that perhaps the salaries of council members should be reduced. Board member Jackie Romaniecki said she opposed salaries for school committee members when they were first proposed and still does not favor compensation. She noted that the expenditures count against net school spending, in effect taking away money that could be used for educational purposes. Helen Johnson said she was unaware when she became a candidate for school committee that a stipend was offered. She said the availability of a salary has no impact on her desire to serve.