Your Legislators: Comptroller Report Shows How Taxpayers Pay for Local Officials' Missteps

State Comptroller Matt Boxer's latest report on June 8, which details pay-to-play violations, excessive billing and improper pension credits pertaining to Edgewater's Municipal Attorney, is another example of how property taxpayers pay when local officials follow poor contract management practices, Assembly Republicans Charlotte Vandervalk and Bob Schroeder said.

"Our contracting laws are designed to prevent the kinds of wasteful practices that Comptroller Boxer uncovered in Edgewater," Vandervalk said. "Everyone in public service, whether an appointed or elected official, has a responsibility to not only follow the law, but follow the money to make sure taxpayers aren't on the hook for excessive billings and pension credits that aren't warranted."

A report released by the Comptroller's office today revealed Edgewater did not consider costs and other pay-to-play requirements when it hired its municipal attorney, Philip Boggia, who then changed his job description so that routine job duties were removed from his $70,000 salary and switched to his $150-per-hour fee. Meanwhile, he accrued pension credits for work performed by associates at his law firm and for work he performed for a different municipality.

"Despite the economic hardships many face in New Jersey, some public officials still place political consideration above the bottom line," Schroeder said. "I commend Comptroller Boxer for his efforts to protect taxpayers. Unfortunately, these kinds of issues are seen too frequently in New Jersey. Local officials must be diligent in their contract management practices, lest taxpayers pay the price."

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Approximately 250 people gathered at The Brownstone in Paterson this past week for an evening of inspiration, and to celebrate the work of the 2011 Care Plus Courage Award Honorees and recognize the courage of Care Plus Foundation’s 17 scholarship recipients.  

Each year, Care Plus Foundation honors the exceptional work of community members and organizations striving to eliminate the stigma for mental health, and providing valuable resources to those in need.  This year’s honorees included Jesse Canella and Jim McCain, co-founders ofHonorVet.org; Kathy Pignatelli, Director of the Wellness Center at Bergen Community College; Just Rooms LLC; Dean Smith; and Peter Tucci, Tucci Properties. District 39 Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk was also in attendance.

The Foundation’s 17 scholarship recipients were also recognized and awarded over $34,000 in educational scholarships from the Bernard C. Dubnick Scholarship Fund.

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Assemblyman Robert Schroeder took to the internet this week to promote National CPR and AED Awareness Week (June 1-7) on his blog. The week long awareness week was sponsored by the American Heart Association to encourage citizens to become trained in CPR and in using an automated external defibrillator. It also raised awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and the appropriate way to respond in the event of such an emergency.

According to the American Heart Association: “SCA is a leading cause of death. Every year, nearly 300,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and only 8% survive. For every minute that passes without action, a victim’s chance of surviving decreases by 7-10 percent. The only way to rescue a SCA victim is through timely CPR and defibrillation. The American Heart Association encourages CPR and AED training for everyone as well as broad placement of AED’s in easily accessible locations in public places. However, many would-be acquirers and lay rescuers are hesitant to make AED’s available or use them in an emergency due to the oppressive civil liability laws in New Jersey. “  

In response to National CPR and AED Awareness Week, Schroeder and Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz (District 21) filed A-1774, which would remove the liabilities that lay rescuers and acquirers now face when acting in good faith to save a life.

For more information about CPR & AED Awareness Week, and to learn the SCA warning signs to watch for, please visit http://www.heart.org.