Henry Bousquet Explains Why He Isn't Getting Paid As City Counselor

Henry Bousquet visited the FUN 107 studio today to talk about the important issue of not being able to receive a paycheck as City Counselor.

On March 21 via Facebook, Ward 3 City Counselor Henry Bousquet wrote a heartfelt message about having not received any pay as City Counselor since April 2014. Because he is an instructor at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech, Bousquet got a call from the state as well as a letter from the Ethics Commission saying that there was a conflict of interest.

The conflict was created because he works at both jobs that are considered to be a part of the same municipality and only had 30 days to pick one salary. Even when there was no “actual, material conflict exists”, he was still not allowed to collect the pay he have earned. Bousquet has stated his discomfort about the situation because he is not a teacher at Voc-Tech. He has stated that if he was a teacher, he would fully understand because he could make a decent salary but instead he has an entire family to consider and is struggling.

Being a city councilor was never a way to “get rich” but to improve Ward 3 and our city overall

On his Facebook, Bousquet has talked about his situation saying, "I have always worked two jobs to make ends meet. My family depends on it. I gave up my second job to serve the people of Ward 3. Like many of my neighbors, I am not wealthy. I live in a two-family in the heart of a working class neighborhood in my ward. I have young children, and my wife and I work hard to make it work. Being a city councilor was never a way to “get rich” but to improve Ward 3 and our city overall".

Bousquet says he spends about 30 or more hours per week at committee and community meetings and working with constituents to solve problems. All he asks is for people to support his initiative to have his salary restored. He has stated that he doesn't expect to receive all the compensation that he has lost in the past 12 months. Instead, he simply asks for the portion within the current fiscal year.

"I am committed to the people of my city and want to continue to serve them, but this is an unfathomable sacrifice for my family. Help me right this injustice and help me to continue serving you to the best of my ability"

Watch the entire interview down below.