Berkeley Township Mayoral Salary Hike Was Long Overdue, Officials Say

by Patricia A. Miller

Berkeley Township - Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr.'s municipal paycheck nearly tripled recently when the Township Council voted to give him a raise.

Amato's salary went from roughly $8,500 a year to $25,000. It's a hike that Township Administrator John Camera and Township Council President John Bacchione say is long overdue.

"It was quite obvious that it was time to adjust the mayor's salary," Bacchione said. "The last salary adjustment for the mayor was in 2000, 16 years ago. By population Berkeley is the sixth largest municipality in Ocean County.

Berkeley's mayoral salary paled in comparison to larger and even some smaller towns, according to a survey Bacchione and Camera conducted of comparable towns.

"He showed tremendous leadership to get our township through Superstorm Sandy," Bacchione said. "He is constantly out in the community addressing residents' concerns. He holds Town Hall meetings, meet the mayor nights, attends countless events and functions. He constantly sends out community news and information. He works very hard representing Berkeley Township."

Camera made the recommendation for the salary increase.

"Mayor Amato knows more about the overall operations of government and the specific operations of Berkeley Township then any elected official I have ever met," he said. "I truly estimated that the lunch time, evening and weekend hours which Mayor Amato puts in for Berkeley Township amount to a second full-time job."

Here is a list of the largest municipalities in Ocean County and their mayoral salaries:

Lakewood - 92,843 residents - $26,530.

Toms River - 91,239 residents - $75,000

Brick - 75,072 residents - $39,000

Jackson - 54,856 residents - $29,500

Manchester - 43,070 residents - $35,000

6. Berkeley - 41,255 residents - 8,500

Some smaller municipalities in Ocean County also pay more in mayoral salaries. They include:

Ocean Gate - 2,011 residents - $50,000

Seaside Heights - 2,887 residents - $15,000

Long Beach Township - 3,051 residents -

Stafford Township - 26,535 residents - $10,800

Bacchione said the salary increase was funded through savings in the administrator's salary. John Camera - former longtime Seaside Heights administrator -was hired several months ago for $105,000. The previous administrator salary was $129,000.

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