Audit's Findings Regarding Leave Payments Disputed By Gloucester Twp.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township leaders disagreed with the New Jersey State Comptroller's claims that some municipality union contracts do not comply with state law.

The State Comptroller released a report on Thursday that claimed two Gloucester Township union contracts that allow employees a sick leave payment of more than $15,000 at a time other than retirement for any employee hired after May 21, 2010, are violating state law.

The laws referred to in the comptroller's report were enacted during former Gov. Christie administration to limit sick and retirement payouts to township workers, Orlando Mercado, Gloucester Township Council President, said at Gloucester Township's July 11 council meeting.

Regarding those laws and the comptroller's audit, "the township has not made any payments to any employees that violate any state law," he said.

All Gloucester Township union contracts that were active on May 21, 2010, expired on Dec. 31, 2010, and thus are compliant with state law, added Tom Cardis, Gloucester Township administrator.

"Therefore the ... comptroller saying that's wrong is incorrect," he added. "I feel [the township] will be exonerated from this."

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