Council Members Say Public Vehicles Misued

The municipal council yesterday demanded more information regarding vehicle usage by public employees outside the police and fire departments, another round in a simmering battle between the governing body and Mayor Cory Booker over spending cuts.

“Do not point fingers at us until you clean your own house,” East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said. “The use of cars by non-essential people continues today...I think we have to say enough is enough. We have to put a stop to this.”

Sparking yesterday’s comments by Amador and other council members was a standing request by the Booker administration to approve spending a $23,245 grant for another vehicle, adding to the city’s fleet of 1,100. Council members yesterday voted to defer the request again.

Yesterday’s vote comes a few weeks after Booker publicly criticized the council   for failing to trim its budget, which pays for council salaries, staff and  services -- including car usage. While Amador and a few other council members agree the council should cut back, the members present yesterday also insisted that fat still remains in other city departments, including when it comes to vehicle usage.

Council members claimed that some cars are being used inappropriately. Councilman-at-Large Carlos Gonzalez said employees are being allowed to take cars home even though the employees are not needed on an emergency basis.

North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos said he wanted to ensure that only “executive level people have take-home rights.”

“Any vehicle request is going to be put under greater scrutiny by this council,” said Ramos.

Other council members complained that their requests for information on proposed spending from the Booker administration have been ignored, making it impossible to make informed decisions. The discussion regarding car usage dovetails with the wider issue of Booker’s proposed 2012 city budget, which calls for $327,000,000 in spending and a whopping -- though still tentative -- 6.8 percent rise in the property tax rate. Council members have also expressed concerns they will not be provided with enough data regarding the budget, which is now being reviewed by the council. 

“This request would not have to be held hostage” if information were provided, Central Ward Councilman Darrin Sharif said.

Business Administrator Julien Neals asked the council yesterday to compile a list of questions they’d like answered regarding vehicle usage. Council members replied they wanted data on monthly gas costs accrued by individual employees and whether parking fines have been paid by the city. Ramos also said he wants to ensure a “plan is in place” to guarantee vehicles are being used appropriately, including getting EZ Pass accounts for each vehicle.  

Anne Torres, a city hall spokesperson, said yesterday in an email that, aside from police and fire personnel, 32 vehicles are on a “take-home” basis, down from nearly 100 a few years ago. Those 32 vehicles are assigned to members of the council, some department directors as well as employees “who are required to respond to emergency situations” like water-main breaks. 


Those employees “are able to apply for travel reimbursement for city-related business, which includes mileage and toll reimbursement.  Outside of police and fire, gas cards are provided to certain employees to obtain gas at city facilities,” Torres said, adding that about five other employees “have gas cards affiliated with particular gas stations.”