Mayor's Controversial Pay Raise Set For Vote From Wayne Council

WAYNE, NJ — A controversial ordinance that would raise the Wayne mayor's salary from $18,750 to $140,000 is slated for a vote at Wednesday's Township Council meeting.

If passed, Wayne's mayorship would go from part-time to full-time, also entitling the officeholder to benefits and leave time. Mayor Christopher Vergano contends that the township deserves a full-time mayor, but critics have questioned the proposed salary increase of 647 percent.

"We have an $87 million corporation and a part-time CEO," Vergano said at Jan. 4's meeting, referring to the township's budget. "The town deserves better than that."

But several council members expressed skepticism at the meeting, with the proposal receiving opposition from Ward 2's Al Sadowski, Ward 4's Joseph Scuralli and Ward 5's Francine Ritter.

Vergano, a Republican, has served as Wayne's mayor since 2008, winning a fourth term in 2021.

Ritter credited Vergano for his leadership during the pandemic and his efforts to bolster Wayne's first-responding agencies. But she noted that those accomplishments came as a part-timer, noting that Vergano knew it was a part-time role when he ran for re-election in 2021.

"I don’t see this as something that’s necessary for the Wayne taxpayer to bear," said Ritter, the lone Democrat on the nine-member council.

At-Large Council Member David Varano praised Vergano's accomplishments as mayor, but he said at Jan. 4's meeting that he wasn't fully comfortable with implementing the change.

Vergano unveiled several ways to improve Wayne's mayorship in a full-time role, including a "major push" to explore redevelopment opportunities and to help with more grant applications. The full-time position would also aid those who want to sit down with him during the day instead of at night, he said.

An online petition, which received 748 signatures, called for a referendum on the mayor's pay raise.

The ordinance is up for adoption at Wednesday's meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Wayne Municipal Building. See the agenda here.