Committee Rewards Some Employees with Raises

The township Committee approved an ordinance that grants a 2 percent raise to non-unionized employees in management positions by a vote of 3-1 Thursday night.

“It’s not the right time,” said Committeewoman Helen DelaCruz, the lone vote in opposition. “We believe they are hard workers but this is not the right time.”

The ordinance gives those employees in management and assistant management positions who are not a part of a bargaining union a raise.

These employees haven’t received raises since 2008, Committeeman Dave Most said. In addition, many department heads replaced retired employees who received greater salaries.

Committeeman Gary Quinn added that within the last three or four years, 26 to 28 positions have been vacated and not back-filled so present employees have taken on roles outside of their job descriptions. Also, some of the subordinates of those employees have received raises.

“They have truly stepped up to the plate and gone above and beyond with less available to them…We’re trying to take and show them that we do appreciate what they do,” said Quinn, who abstained to vote because he has a relative who works for the township.

The total salary increase amounts to $25,224, Township Administrator and Municipal Clerk Veronica Laureigh said.

In order for DelaCruz to receive a raise at her job, she must undergo stringent evaluations, she said. Although she believes that the employees deserve raises, a complete evaluation should be a part of the process.

“You don’t just give a raise out of the kindness of your heart,” she said.

In the past, the township has done evaluations of its employees prior to handing out raises, Laureigh said. It turned out that union employees still received raises regardless because of the contracts and negotiations.

Within the last couple years, the township has ceased those evaluations, she said, but can consider implementing them once again for the non-unionized employees.

Committeeman Sean Sharkey, who voted in favor of the raises, recommended the township also consider looking into placing salary caps on certain positions.

Times are tough, resident Fred Beglinger of Forked River said, questioning why this issue couldn’t be raised as a referendum come Election Day.

“Wouldn’t it be democratic and constitutional to bring this to the public as a question at the time of the election and let the people whose money you’re using decide whether or not at this particularly rough time, do they want this money to give these raises to people who are making far more than most of them?” he said.

Sharkey pointed out only three of the employees make more than $100,000.

“I’m unsure as to why you’re taking this action. Why now an increase for these employees?” Tony Risoli of Forked River said.

The employees have made sacrifices over the years and have costs that have gone up just like everyone else, Mayor Mark Dykoff said, adding that they also do "excellent work."

Risoli called the move a "management prerogative." Traditionally raises are given for a number of reasons such as merit, performance, longevity and contracts.

“These are logical reasons. They’re reasons that are accepted by society,” he said, recommending that the township be able to present a quantitative value for their judgment in the future. “I didn’t hear any good reasons. I think there should be good reasons to give increases.”

Risoli added that it might be the perception of some that it is a political move, which is another reason the committee should have the basis to justify the decision.

“The Republicans are in power now and maybe they have to take care of some people because they may not be in power after November,” he said.

Statewide, salaries have increased by 2.3 percent over the last year, Dykoff said. Based on that figure, the committee discussed giving raises and determined 2 percent in order to keep the tax increase under the state's 2 percent budget expenditure cap.

Gary Vaccaro of Lanoka Harbor was perturbed that after many came out

“I just find it frustrating when people make these comments that we’re feeding off the public trough like we’re not hard workers,” said Vaccaro, who worked in the private industry for 25 years and the public for six now.

Public personnel work hard, don’t make a lot of money and contribute to health benefits, he said. He invited those who see otherwise on the job of an employee who has to fix a water main break on a Saturday night in the middle of the winter while making $30,000 to $40,000.

“It’s not fair to take it out on the public workers,” he said.

An individual making $65,000 would receive a $1,300 raise at 2 percent. That raise would be $108 per month. In the first year, the employee would contribute $110 a month in benefits, negating the raise, he said. By the fourth year, the employee will be paying $400 per month towards benefits. 

“The perception that government employees have the golden benefit package is incorrect. I understand the economy is tough but I always believe people should be rewarded for good work,” he said.

Non-unionized management positions to receive raises include: Chief of Police, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Public Works, Director of Community Development, Municipal Clerk, Municipal Court Administrator, Deputy Municipal Court Administrator, Township Administrator, Tax Collector, Assistant Treasurer, Tax Assessor, Construction Code Official, Public Works Supervisors, Recreation Director, Zoning Officer, Recycling Coordinator, Code Enforcement Officer permanent and part-time, Electrical Inspectors part-time, Municipal Court Attendant and Recycling Yard Attendant.

“Our employees have taken furloughs, no pay raises, whatever,” Tim O’Connor of Lanoka Harbor said. “The salary increase that you’re talking about doesn’t even cover the cost of living. It’s not a big thing.”