Cedar Grove Council to Vote on Ending Stipends

Cedar Grove Council members are sending a message to taxpayers - they are willing to work for free. 

After refusing to accept $21,000 annual stipends for the last three years, council members are planning on eliminating the stipends entirely at their Sept. 10 meeting.

Deputy Mayor Robert O’Toole told Patch Tuesday morning the council should lead by example in a time when they are asking almost every other department to cut back and operate more efficiently. He said the only thing in their budget the council could eliminate to help the township is the stipend. 

“Each year (for the past three years), I’ve proposed that we don’t get a stipend,” O’Toole said. “Money is tight and we’re asking departments to cut back and be as lean as possible. That’s why we’ve cut out all our stipends.”

The vote will direct Township Manager Thomas Tucci to not include the stipend in the budget in the first place. 

O’Toole said the township also no longer pays for council members to go to their annual convention in Atlantic City. 

“If (you) want to go – which I do – you go on your own dime,” he said. 

When asked if the stipend provides incentive for people to be involved in the council, O’Toole said, “If it is (incentive), then they have their priorities in the wrong place. You should want to be on the council (to make a difference).” 

No committee member or recreational sports coaches in Cedar Grove get stipends for their services, O’Toole continued. He said the council should be no different. 

Mayor Peter Tanella, Tucci or other council members were unavailable for additional comment.