On December 1, seven of Lower Merion’s 12 Democratic Commissioners – voted with two Republicans to defeat a motion that would have created a $15/hr. minimum wage for all township employees. The vote gave lie to the trope that the commissioners are controlled by the Democratic Committee of Lower Merion/Narberth (DCLMN).
Before the motion was introduced (by Commissioner Gilda Kramer, who is also a DCLMN Vice Chair), DCLMN Secretary Gigi Leitch (speaking on behalf of the committee), told the commissioners that the Committee held a special meeting on November 29, and passed two resolutions – one supporting a $15 Minimum Wage for all Township employees, and another urging the Board of Commissioners to consider the dedication of ARP (American Rescue Funds) to the immediate needs of people suffering as a result of the pandemic.
Commissioner Gilda Kramer – This is a policy question on whether we should pay all of our employees a living wage, regardless of whether they are full-time or part-time. The feedback that I have received from the community has been overwhelmingly in favor of this, even if it means a small real estate tax increase in the long run. This is an issue of treating all of our employees with fairness and dignity.
Board Commissioner, Democrat Andy Gavran – This didn’t come from those who are closest to the situation. It came from those on this board, looking to prove a point and take a political stand. And that’s not the way to do government. That’s what we’ve seen on the national level. We’ve seen that with broken government. And that’s not how we should be governing in our township
The motion failed by a vote of 9-5.