"Regardless how you may feel about these proposed pay increases, you are entitled to know what is being proposed so that you may draw your own conclusions," he said. "Voting without any of that discussion is just deplorable."

Braude also does not reject the idea of a pay raise, but does not believe it should go into affect on July 1, like currently planned. He prefers to have a salary increase take affect for the next council.

"No legislative body should vote to increase its own pay," Braude said.

He also believed the public should be given more information.

"I would hope that people agree that when you are voting to appropriate money, especially to yourself, that the public is entitled to a full and fair hearing," Braude said.

After rejecting Braude's proposal, the council approved a second reading for the item, which is a mandatory procedure.

Councillor Timothy P. Toomey Jr., said the second reading--which cannot happen until the June 5 meeting--will offer the chance for the public to speak on the matter.

If the proposed amendment passes, school committee members would also each receive a raise to $25,900, an increase of nearly $5,000. Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio, who chairs the school committee and sits on the city council, would receive both increases.