Bonuses boost council staff pay

Salaries exceed ranges authorized by city statutes

The Boston City Council has been awarding large bonuses to members of its staff, quietly boosting the pay of some political appointees to levels that are well beyond the salary ranges authorized for those positions in city statutes, according to a Globe review of public records.

Under the guidance of City Council president Maureen Feeney, the council paid the council's staff director, Ann Hess Braga, $108,000 in 2007, including two bonus checks totaling $23,700.

At the time, the salary range set by city ordinance for the position was $65,000 to $85,000 annually. Six other council staff members also received bonuses that pushed their pay beyond statutory limits.