Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says he’s stayed out of the debate over a proposed pay raise for his position. At the recommendation of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the City Council is considering raising the mayor’s pay to $135,000 a year, up from the current $95,000. Sarno says the mayor’s pay has not seen a raise in 16 years.

“The demands of the job, people know what it’s about. It’s 24/7, you can’t turn off being the mayor,” says Sarno. “So I’ll abide by the City Council’s decision at that point.”

Sarno says his pay is significantly lower than other mayors of similarly sized cities in New England. According to the Springfield Republican the City Council will take up the issue at its October 7th meeting.