Monday, February 4, 2013

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE SALARY HIKE?

Buried in a great report at PATCH about the Saturday budget meeting of the Township Committee is word that at least two members of the TC are interested in a raise.

The story indicates TC members currently make $3,920, but some would be interested in a raise to $5,000. The story cited TC member Jerry Ryan saying the committee has had no raise in almost 20 years, adding:

[Mayor Vic] DeLuca suggested raising the township committee member salary from $3,920 per year to $5,000 per year. He said that with the rising cost of transportation, the committee often has had to reach into their own pockets to cover expenses.

Interestingly the raise talk occurred at a meeting where Mayor Vic De Luca said he would not support continued funding for YouthNet, reporting:


Maplewood Mayor Victor DeLuca said at the Saturday budget hearings that he will not again vote for township funding to YouthNet.
Representatives from the non-profit, South Orange/Maplewood-based youth enrichment organization presented their accomplishments from 2012 and goals for 2013 before asking the township committee for a $15,000 contribution in the coming year. The request, the same amount as last year’s, would go towards funding YouthNet’s scholarship programs, after school programs and materials they use to seek larger-scale sponsorship. 
"I have no quarrel with the services that are being provided,” said DeLuca, who voted to establish YouthNet years ago, “but I do not think that the town should be funding [YouthNet] services instead of other programs. I will not be voting for YouthNet’s funding this year.”

See the entire story HERE.

None of the TC members responded to requests for comment Monday.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's a trivial amount of money, and anything we can do to get residents involved, so we can flush the system as necessary, is a good thing.

By the way, I was once told that those who serve on state boards become eligible for pensions. Examples include these water and sewer boards we read about, boards inhabited by elected officials. I'd like to know if our current TC are gaining eligibility directly or indirectly for state pensions, and what the math is on this.

Ken Houghton said...

We have consistently been told that YouthNet intends to survive on its own. From the screams, no one in the town believes that ever can or will happen.