Borough managers receive 5 percent raises
By:Alec Moore
Salary hikes and a $10,000 bonus for the borough were among the more prominent items discussed at Tuesday’s Borough Council meeting.
A number of residents voiced their objections to a unanimously approved ordinance which authorizes six managerial municipal employees to receive a 5 percent retroactive salary increase, as of Jan. 1, 2001.
Paul Evans expressed his view that it is unfair to award employees a 5 percent salary increase when 3 percent is the standard within private industries and the public sector.
"Why give them a 5 percent raise? I think that’s a bit much," said Mr. Evans, who noted that he receives an annual pension increase of 2 percent. In response to the concerns of Mr. Evans, and several others who opposed the salary hike, Mayor Angelo Corradino indicated that all of the managerial employees who are receiving the 5 percent raise routinely go above and beyond the call of duty without compensation for the sake of the borough’s financial well-being.
"The dollars that this group saves for us far exceeds a 5 percent raise," said the mayor.
As a result of the salary increases Gary Garwacke, borough administrator, now receives a salary of $84,000; Philip Petrone, Public Works superintendent, receives $58,760. Diane Schubach, chief financial officer, receives $18,900; Patricia Zamorski, treasurer, receives $40,950. Henry Rzemieniewski, municipal judge, receives $19,000 and John Tamburini, sub-code official, receives $7,644.
In other business, the council accepted a $20,000 bid from Hillsborough resident John Pettoni for 35,000 square feet of borough property adjacent to the Yellow Rose property on South Main Street.
Mr. Pettoni’s bid of $10,000 for the property, which he says is needed to accomodate parking at the banquet facility he plans to build at the site, was the only bid made during a Sept. 28 auction for the property.
Before the council took action to accept his bid, Mr. Pettoni offered to increase his bid to $20,000. Mr. Pettoni indicated during the meeting that he doubled his bid for the property to avoid being outbid, in the event the council received a higher bid, by some chance, or chose to reject his original bid of $10,000.
But Councilman Martin Wierzba and Manville Republican Party Chairman Rudy Nowak were somewhat skeptical of why Mr. Pettoni would pay $20,000 for a piece of property when he had already placed a successful bid for $10,000.
"It seems to me that when a piece of property is put up for sale the seller can either accept or reject the bid, but the price can’t be increased arbitrarily," said Mr. Nowak to the council.
Borough Attorney C. Douglas Reina, however, disagreed with Mr. Nowak’s assertion and stated that as long as the pre-specified bid amount is paid the purchaser may increase his payment by however much he chooses.
The council then unanimously voted to approved the offer.
At the beginning of the meeting, Republican State Assemblymen Christopher ‘Kip’ Bateman, R-Branchburg, and Peter Biondi, R-Hillsborough, were honored by Mayor Corradino and the Borough Council for their support and their efforts in obtaining extraordinary aid for Manville in the wake of Hurricane Floyd and the Claremont creosote Superfund cleanup.
Although the awards were to be presented during Manville’s first Community Day celebration in August, both Assemblyman were unable to attend due to prior commitments.
"It’s a privilege to represent Manville," said Assemblyman Bateman, who postponed his Oct. 9 birthday celebration to attend the council meeting. Assemblyman Biondi echoed Assemblyman Bateman’s sentiments of teamwork and also said he is proud to represent the borough of Manville, as part of New Jersey’s legislative District 16.
"I’m just delighted to be honored in this way," said Assemblyman Biondi, who pledged that he will continue to work on obtaining aid on Manville’s behalf. "I thank you and look forward to continue working with you," he added.