Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed three members to an advisory commission to review the salary levels of elected officials, including the Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, the five Borough Presidents, the fifty-one Council Members and the five District Attorneys, and make recommendations for changes, if any.  The three members are Tom Bernstein (Chair), G.G. Michelson and Stephanie Palmer.
 
"Compensation for elected officials is a sensitive and challenging issue," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "The members of this commission have the talent, expertise and experience to tackle this issue with wisdom and common sense.  I am pleased they have agreed to serve and I look forward to receiving their findings."

"My fellow members and I look forward to working on this important issue," said Chairman Bernstein. "Between the three members of the Commission, we possess a diversity of skills and experience that I believe will yield a thoughtful and responsible report."

The commission was established by Local Law in 1986 to conduct periodic reviews of the salaries of the City's elected officials.   The Commission is charged with examining increases in compensation for elected officials that takes into account their duties, current salaries, time since and last salary adjustment, changes in the cost of living and salaries for similar positions in government or analogous jobs in the private, as well as non-profit, sectors.  The commission will study the issue and report its recommendations to the Mayor.  Thereafter, the Mayor will submit the report to the City Council with his approval, disapproval or modifications.  If changes are recommended, the Council can pass a local law implementing them and/or other changes it deems appropriate.

The members of the commission are:

• Tom A. Bernstein is President and Co-Founder of Chelsea Piers, L.P., which was formed to develop and operate the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex.  From 1983 to 1998, he was one of the two principals of Silver Screen Management, Inc.  Mr. Bernstein is a former member of the ownership group of the Texas Rangers Baseball club.  Mr. Bernstein is a member of the Boards of Directors and Executive Committees of the Fresh Air Fund, NYC & Company, Human Rights First and the Council on Foreign Relations.  In 2002, President Bush appointed him to serve as a Council Member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., where he serves on the Executive Committee and Chair of the Committee on Conscience.
  
  
• G.G. Michelson served R.H. Macy & Co. for 50 years, retiring from her position as Senior Vice President for External Affairs in 1992, and served as Senior Advisor and Member of the Board until 1994.  Mrs. Michelson has also served on a number of corporate boards including the General Electric Company, The Quaker Oats Company, and The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. She was President of the Board of Overseers of TIAA-CREF, a Public Governor of the American Stock Exchange, and Deputy Chair of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.  Mrs. Michelson is also Chair of The Helena Rubinstein Foundation, Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University, a member of the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, and previously served on the Board of Visitors of the Columbia Business School.
  
  
• Stephanie Palmer has served as the Executive Director of New York City Mission Society, a human services organization, since 1996.  Ms. Palmer has designed, implemented, and administered educational and employment training programs, advocated for legislation supporting the nonprofit sector, and provided management and leadership for several other nonprofit organizations. Ms. Palmer is also President of the Black Agency Executives, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support and professional development of its membership, and serves as a member on numerous other boards including the Human Services Council and the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York.