Verona Salary Ordinances Approved

During what was a typical night for the meeting of the Verona Township Council, two ordinances of significant impact to the Township’s budget were approved and adopted, but both by only a 3 to 2 vote in favor of the ordinances.  Council Members Kevin Ryan and Michael Nochimson voted against both ordinances, while Council Member Jay Sniatkowski, Deputy Mayor, Bob Manley and Mayor, Frank Sapienza voted in favor.

Ordinance #13-11 fixed the salaries of the Police Chief and paid Police Officers. The police unions previously negotiated this contract, which was extended in 2009, went into effect beginning in 2011 and remains in effect until the end of 2013. There are 27 police officers plus the Chief of Police who are affected by this ordinance.

According to Township Manager, Joseph Martin, “The salary increase under the contract is 3.5 percent but as of October 1^st, it is offset by an employee increase into the pension system now to about 10 percent.”

This would bring the top Police Department salary rate for Police Chief to almost $151,000 per year, with the lowest rate for a Patrolman to just below $85,000.

Ordinance #14-11 fixes the salaries of non-uniform, township employees who are also represented by unions and have similarly negotiated contracts. As published, the Township Manager’s annual salary will remain the same as 2010, at a little over $169,000. The other salaries range from over $99,000 for the Construction Code Official, while the Buildings and Grounds Supervisor and Superintendent of Public Works will each receive about $87,000. The Recreation Director is listed at approximately $94,000 per year.

“Although I was not here at the time,” commented Council Member Kevin Ryan, “When the contracts were extended in 2009, to have it extended as far out as it did without knowing what the economy was going to do…I don’t think it was a responsible way to do it…I just can’t see myself voting for this.”

Council Member Michael Nochimson echoed the sentiments of Ryan, “Not being here and not being involved in any of the negotiations back in 2009, it’s difficult for me to approve ordinances of this sort without enough discussion…Going forward, we’re going to have more and more discussion…but it will be important to understand what any increase will have on that years budget.”

Surprisingly, when the public hearing was opened for discussions on either ordinance, only one person from the standing-room-only audience came forward to comment. Rob Caruso, asked any of the three Council Members for justification on why they voted in support of the ordinances.

Council Member Jay Sniatkowski replied that during binding arbitration in the past, 99 percent [of the time] they usually favored the union’s demands. In many cases it cost the municipality thousands of dollars in retroactive pay and legal fees. Since then, the township has worked with the unions to split the difference between their demand and the Township’s offer to avoid long negotiations and promote more reasonable increases. Sniatkowski did mention that now, times have changed and salary increases in the future will be seriously discussed.