Council: Posting of Contracts on Township Website 'Not Appropriate' During Negotiations

Members of Manchester's said this week that they are open to posting public employee contracts online — or at the least a link to the state website with the documents — but only after current union negotiations are completed.

Resident Fred Lund has requested on several occasions that the township make the contracts available on its website. Council members have responded by saying that scans of the documents already are available for the public to view online at the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission website.

"By not posting these contracts, you are denying the public information that is legally entitled," Lund said during public comment at the governing body's Monday regular meeting. 

Council President Craig Wallis said that he does not want to post that information to the township website while negotiations are underway with blue and white collar employees. That could jeopardize the talks, he said.

"For us to put that contract on our website would be antagonistic to the unions, and I'm not going to do that," Wallis said. "Especially when it's already available somewhere."

All council members agreed with Wallis' position and said that they want to wait until negotiations are finished before considering posting either the contracts or a link to PERC on the township's website.

"We have to negotiate in good faith," said Councilmember Samuel Fusaro. "It's not appropriate at this time. Come back after negotiations."

Business Administrator Elena Zsoldos said that negotiations could take anywhere from 3-6 months to complete. 

The township is hiding nothing, Wallis said, as the contracts are readily available for viewing by the public on the PERC website. 

"That's where every town puts the contracts. You've asked us to put the contracts on our website. We've put them where they're supposed to be," he said. 

Lund countered by saying that the PERC website is difficult to navigate and he would rather see the documents on the township's site.

Council Vice President Brendan echoed Fusaro's thoughts, adding that the township operates with transparency.

"Once these negotiations are over, I don't have any problems with reviewing this and possibly putting this on the site, as well as any other information residents deem fit for the website," he said.