Township Council Reduces Acting Administrator Pay by $30,000

Members of the Washington Township council voted Wednesday night during the budget meeting to reduce the pay for Acting Administrator Lilly Chin from $89,000, which she received in 2010, to $59,000. Council President Fred Goetz, who pushed for the decrease, said the lower salary brings the township in line with what other communities in the area pay.

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz spoke out against the reduction, calling it unfair. She has wanted Chin to remain in the administrator role and had suggested a salary of $90,780 in the 2011 budget, which represents a 2 percent increase from the pay last year. Last week, .

According to Sobkowicz, Chin's $89,000 salary saved the township money since she has been doing the purchasing agent and administrator jobs for less than what it cost to have two people in the positions.

But council members pointed to other municipalities and how their governing bodies have handled the acting administrator pay.

Goetz said Woodcliff Lake and Midland Park both provide a $500 per week bonus to the acting administrator. The $59,000 proposed salary works out to about a $500 weekly addition to Chin's salary as purchasing agent.

"I think it's a complete waste of taxpayer dollars to pay someone two and a half times the going rate no matter what it is or who it is. It's fiscally irresponsible and it's wrong," Goetz said. "If we made a mistake by overpaying last year, then we need to correct it this year."

Council Vice President Steven Cascio agreed. "If the other towns are making do with a salary as this with the acting administrator, I don't see why the Township of Washington has to pay much more than that," he said. "You're talking $30,000 more. That’s a huge, huge number to most people. ... I cannot justify that."

Sobkowicz argued that Chin is doing more work than some administrators who are paid upwards of $140,000, but Cascio and Goetz said that Chin does not have the certifications and experience that others have.

The council voted 3-1 in favor of the reduction, with Councilman Glenn Beckmeyer casting the dissenting vote. Councilman Richard Hrbek was sick and not in attendance.

After the vote Sobkowicz told members of the council, "You're not being fair." She said Chin is good at her job, works hard and is "devoted to this community."

She added that the council's actions could bring legal action. "You just lowered her salary, which you'll probably get sued on," Sobkowicz said.

The next budget meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the third floor council conference room in the , 350 Hudson Ave.