NEW ROCHELLE, NY (September 24, 2025) — Talk about laughing all the way to the bank.
Kathleen E. Gill, who served as New Rochelle’s city manager for 15 months, received $363,212 in total pay, placing her 28th on a statewide list of the 50 highest-paid local government workers outside New York City, according to data compiled by the Empire Center for Public Policy.
The former New Rochelle chief executive ranked among New York’s highest-paid local government employees in the 2024-25 fiscal year, largely due to a substantial separation agreement following her abrupt and illegal “firing” by the city’s mayor amid an ethics controversy involving Yadira Ramos, the current Mayor and Noam Bramson, the former Mayor.
The ham-handed conspiracy to remove Gill from office is one part of a much larger ongoing criminal investigation by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Ramos was one of several New Rochelle officials subpoenaed by a Westchester County Grand Jury in June.
The figures, part of the Empire Center’s annual “What They Make” report, include regular salary, overtime and payouts for unused sick and vacation time but exclude employer pension contributions and health benefits.
Gill’s payout came after Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert fired her on March 25, 2024, citing support from three other council members. The New Rochelle City Council later authorized a settlement agreement with Gill on April 5, 2024, and accepted her resignation effective April 9, 2024. The separation deal was valued at up to $445,000 some of which was paid out in the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
The firing stemmed from Gill’s resistance to what were described as out-of-control and often illegal spending proposals by council members, including millions on marketing, public relations, pet projects and no-bid contracts. Gill had pushed back against Ramos’ plan to use $250,000 from the fund balance to renovate the mayor’s office, leading to fabricated allegations against Gill regarding renovations to her own office.
The timing of the firing coincided with the imminent release of a report from the New Rochelle Board of Ethics sustaining an ethics violation allegation against Ramos. The complaint, filed by local journalist Robert Cox, led to findings of potential official misconduct
Additionally, Ramos signed an unauthorized contract to hire a law firm to negotiate the settlement with Gill, which was cited as a violation of the city charter. A second ethics complaint was filed over this action.
Following her departure from New Rochelle, Gill was appointed village manager of Mamaroneck by the Board of Trustees, effective Dec. 9, 2024, replacing interim manager Charles Strome III. Gill brought 27 years of experience in municipal governance from her tenure in New Rochelle.
The Empire Center report highlighted that 475 local government employees earned more than $300,000 in 2024-25, with many in police and fire roles in Nassau and Suffolk counties. New Rochelle ranked second among cities for average pay at $119,839 for its 2,293 employees. The data is based on submissions to the New York State and Local Retirement System and is available at SeeThroughNY.net.
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
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