Debate Rages on Over West Deptford Officials' Free Benefits

It’s the debate that won’t go away.

Once again, the issue of free health benefits for West Deptford elected and appointed officials came up during the public session at Thursday night’s township committee meeting, provoking another public discussion of a matter that's come up regularly since April.

Ernest Kraus fired the initial salvo from the public on the evening, questioning why committee members continue to take the free benefits, in light of public opposition.

Mayor Anna Docimo fell back to her position that there’s a potential bill at the state level that could affect government workers, which would include committee members.

“If you do something now, and a month from now, when this bill comes out, you have to change it, it doesn’t make much sense,” she said.

Kraus continued to press Docimo and solicitor Michael Angelini on the issue, however.

“I’m wondering why you have to wait for the state to come in and say, ‘Don’t do it,’” he said.

A visibly agitated Angelini asserted that, while he takes benefits from the township, it doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything.

“I pay my benefits, sir,” he said.

The debate Thursday night was sparked at least in part by a recent FOX 29 segment on former mayor David Shields, who has lifetime benefits from the township, among other perks from his jobs in government.

As with Shields, the way the current ordinance stands, Docimo could retire immediately and receive free health benefits for the rest of her life, to the tune of about $25,000 per year, as it currently stands.

Sean Kilpatrick, the committee’s lone Republican, was pressed on his taking benefits, which he said was born of necessity, given that he was on COBRA when he took his seat on the committee.

“I will be moving to my employer’s benefits next year, when enrollment opens,” Kilpatrick said.

Deputy Mayor Len Daws, who tried to push for an amended ordinance that would eliminate the option of free benefits for elected officials and the solicitor back in April, said there’s no reason not to wipe out free benefits at the local level.

“We don’t have to wait for the state to do something,” he said.

, and more controversy last month, when the committee split, 3-2, to approve minutes from that April meeting that Daws and Kilpatrick said didn’t accurately reflect what happened regarding the resolution.

And though Docimo argued in favor of waiting for statewide legislation to come down from Trenton, 18 of the 22 municipalities in Gloucester County have axed benefits for their elected officials, including the Gloucester County freeholder board earlier this year.