Rep. Mike Giallombardo

The state representative whose district encompasses Cape Coral has added his name to the thousands of city residents decrying Cape Coral City Council’s decision to pay themselves a stipend, thus doubling the money they receive for duties related to holding office.

Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-79, asked the city’s elected board via letter Wednesday to “do the right thing” and repeal decision they made in December.

If not, he informed Council he would “work diligently with my colleagues to ensure it is repealed and that this never happens again in the State of Florida.”

The Jan. 17 letter, in its entirety, reads:

“Dear Mayor Gunter and City Council Members:

“On December 13, 2023, as part of a consent agenda, the Cape Coral City Council approved ‘stipends’ that would essentially double the salary of each Council Member and the Mayor. This consent agenda item passed by a vote of 5-1 without discussion or debate, even after a very strong show of opposition from the public.

“Long-term compensation for work hours is not a stipend; it’s a salary and the Cape Coral city charter is clear that salary increases for Council Members and Mayor must be approved by the electorate through the referendum process. Passing this under the guise of a stipend is nothing more than an attempt to circumvent the referendum process, which sets a dangerous precedent not only locally but also statewide.

“As elected officials, when we run for office we accept the terms and conditions of the position we are campaigning for, including the demands and compensation rate of the office. I understand that more time may be needed to ensure you can effectively do the job that you were elected to do than was required over a decade ago, when the council’s compensation was last changed. If that is the case, and you feel the job of Councilmember or Mayor is not appropriately compensated, then the Council should follow the charter and bring this salary increase to the voters via a referendum.

“I am asking you to do the right thing, listen to the people that you represent, and repeal the stipend. I believe there can be meaningful conversations through workshops on changing the roles and responsibilities of the Council and Mayor and those changes can be addressed through charter referendums. If the stipend is not repealed, I will work diligently with my colleagues to ensure it is repealed and that this never happens again in the State of Florida.

Sincerely,

Mike Giallombardo

The stipends, of $3,333 per month for council members and $5,000 per month for the mayor, are in addition to voter-approved salaries paid to members of the elected board. According to the most recent figures posted to the city’s website, the mayor’s post is paid approximately $46,604 per year. Council members are paid approximately $40,620 per year.

Passed Dec. 13 as part of the city’s consent agenda, Council made the stipends retroactive to Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

“I think my letter clearly speaks for itself,” Giallombardo said via email in response to a Breeze call to his office. “I believe the City Council circumvented the referendum process and doubled their salary under the guise of a stipend. And, they did so on a consent agenda without even discussion or debate.

“Cape Coral residents have been very outspoken with their displeasure of this decision, and yet the City Council continues to ignore them.

“If they were able to find a loophole in state law that allowed them to raise their salary without going through the referendum process, I am committed to changing the law so that this cannot happen again.

“I sincerely hope they will readdress this issue and reverse their decision.”

The dissenting vote was cast by Councimember Robert Welsh, Councilmember Dan Sheppard was absent for the vote and Councilmember Richard Carr had not yet been appointed to Council when the vote was taken. Voting in favor of the consent agenda, which included three resolutions to allow the payment of stipends, were Mayor John Gunter and council members William Steinke, Tom Hayden, Keith Long and Jessica Cosden.

Motions to rescind must be made by a voting member who voted in the affirmative.

Welsh said he intends to address the issue in another way.

“As the lone no vote on the stipend unfortunately I am not able to bring it up for reconsideration,” he said via email in response to a Breeze query. “I am going to meet with the city attorney on the next steps of a charter amendment.”

The Lee County Republican Party Executive Committee, meanwhile, has now formally “condemned” members of the Cape Coral City Council who have accepted the stipends.

With approximately 135 members in attendance, the LeeGOP unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday night condemning “profiteering by the Cape Coral City Council” and will withhold support for the re-election of any council members who have accepted the stipends.

The LeeGOP resolution voted on Jan. 16 states “that no funding, resources, or support shall come from the Republican Party of Lee County” for any member of council who has accepted the stipend or accepts it in the future.

The resolution does not apply to Richard Carr, who was not appointed to the city council until after the vote. Carr has notified the city he will not be accepting the stipend.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information on how a motion to rescind may be made.