Letter to the Editor: All Borough Employees Should Take Freeze, Not Just Teachers

Now that Madison voters in their infinite genius have decided not to pass an already compromised and only marginally viable school budget, it's abundantly clear that their little Christie-inspired tea party, with those oh-so-greedy teachers in their crosshairs, has an undeniable potency.

But, as with all such shoot-from-the-hip attacks, this one doesn't take all the facts into account.

How many voters in this town are aware of what Borough salaries are, and what's happening with them? The monies to pay them come out of the same taxpayers' pockets as teachers' salaries do. 

Should all municipal and school employees accept a wage freeze this year?  Sadly, yes, it's probably necessary. But it's unfair in the extreme to expect one group to do so unless they ALL agree to do so.  So spread your wrath, folks.

Neither the Madison Fire Department nor the Department of Public Works employees have yet agreed to a wage freeze, despite being asked by the Borough.  They, it seems, are waiting to see what happens with the Police Department, which not only hasn't agreed to a freeze, but, according to a high-ranking Borough official, is on a course to arbitration.

Now, let's look at these departments. The average salary for a police officer in Madison is approximately $104,000 per year, which includes overtime for such things as manning parades. In 2009, 21 officers had wages at or above that number, with the highest being $155,138. Many who only remain at the rank of Patrolman are among these 21, as apparently the scale is based more on seniority than on rank.

As for our firemen, including the fire safety officer, in 2009 all but 2 of the 14 on the payroll earned $108,519 or higher, with a top salary of $143,984.

The Department of Public Works–for our purposes including sewer, water, and electric field employees, although each has its separate budget wage category–is almost as high, with long-term employees paid considerably more than $100,000 per year, and most others in the high five-figures.  Further, many of these employees also run commercial businesses in the private sector as well, which supplement their incomes.

All of this is a matter of a public record, and can be easily obtained from Borough offices. Teacher salaries, which generally run considerably lower, are available through the District office.

The argument here, though, isn't a comparative one as to who's overpaid or who's underpaid.  The point is simply that if the people of Madison want to vent their financial rage, don't just aim it at the teachers.

I have every confidence that if the Municipal employees agreed to a one-year freeze, so too would the teachers and administrators.  That's called fair; all pitching in during a time of need. But if the teachers agree to a freeze while Municipal employees get increases, they'd be fools.

One final point: Last week I e-mailed Rich Noonan, our superintendent of schools, whom I respect, that if he wanted to be an inspiring leader he should set the tone for the coming weeks by volunteering to decrease his pay by 10-20 percent. Someone who earned $228,000 last year as he did–the highest paid schools employee in Morris County, and among the highest in the state–accepting a freeze, as he has, is a meaningless gesture when he has an army of educators under him who are being asked to make "real life" sacrifices.

If society in general–and Madison in particular–expects to get back on track, it's going to have to start with those at the top re-invigorating the true values of leadership and setting an example for us all.

– By Stephen Wells