Council Majority Takes Steps To Lower Mayor's, Directors' Salaries

During the second to last council meeting in its current form—Sixth Ward Councilman Nino Giacchi will be replaced by Councilwoman-elect Jennifer Giattino in July—the council majority passed ordinances to reduce the mayor's and directors' salaries.

The two ordinances were passed on first reading on Wednesday night. There is no public discussion on an ordinance's first reading. A discussion is likely to take place during the next council meeting. The ordinance is likely to pass then in a 5-4 vote.

The mayor can veto ordinances after they're passed by the council, and may do that in this case.

Directors earn $103,000 annually and the mayor makes $116,000. The ordinance, which was introduced by Council President Beth Mason, proposed to lower the mayor's salary to $100,000. Another ordinance, also introduced by Mason, proposes to lower directors' salaries—which also includes Business Administrator Arch Liston—to the $90,000 range.

A resolution, to lower the amount in Corporation Counsel Mark Tabakin's contract, was also passed by the counsel. The mayor has no veto power over resolutions.

"This is just another political witch hunt," said councilman Ravi Bhalla about the resolution. "(It) serves no policy purpose whatsoever."

Mason said the ordinances and the resolution in question are supposed to lower spending.

The contract between Tabakin and the city of Hoboken was approved by the city council in October 2010. The "not to exceed amount" was then decided to be $100,000. Wednesday night's resolution lowers that amount to $70,000.

"Doesn't it take two parties to break a contract?" asked Councilwoman Carol Marsh on Wednesday. 

"It takes one party to break a contract," Tabakin answered, "it takes another to sue them for breach."