Boston City Council Sets Regulations on Clerk Collecting Marriage Fees

The new rule bans clerks from earning money for performing marriages during workdays.

  Boston's City Clerk may no longer privately collect fees for performing marriages while on the City's dime.  The Boston City Council voted unanimously today to reform how and when the clerk may collect such fees and where the money will go. There will be four changes: Similar legislation is pending in the State House. In Boston, the City Clerk has a salary of $102,000 but can earn tens of thousands more a year performing marriages.  In other news: 

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Proposed Bill to Ban City Clerks from Collecting Marriage Fees on Work Time

The bill, proposed by state Rep. Marty Walz, would also prohibit all public employees from using their government offices to perform marriages at any time if they keep the fees.

  State Rep. Marty Walz, D-Boston, filed legislation on Wednesday that would ban city clerks, and other public employees, from pocketing marriage fees they earn on work time. The bill comes as the Boston City Council chose former City Councilor Maureen Feeney, who abruptly resigned in November from her City Councilor position, to be Boston's clerk. On Wednesday, she was elected by the Boston City Council as the the new city clerk come the New Year. The job pays about $102,000, plus the opportunity for more by officiating weddings. Feeney begins her new job on Jan. 2. Under current law, city and town clerks who are also justices of the peace are allowed to perform marriages during their working hours and keep the fees.  For example, the …

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Councilor Feeney Resigns, Eyeing Boston City Clerk Job

Boston City Councilor Maureen Feeney said she'd stay in office until the last day, but instead she resigned before term ended.