Council gives position tenure despite objections from some

By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

Council gives position tenure
despite objections from some
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK — Despite some opposition from residents, the Township Council voted unanimously Monday night to provide tenure status to the position of municipal director of parks and public works.

As a condition of tenure, the council ordained that the person holding the full-time position maintain it for at least five consecutive years, while continuing a positive and efficient work ethic.

The tenure status will protect the employee from being fired for political reasons, Mayor William Neary said.

During the public hearing Monday, some residents contested that allowing employees to achieve tenure after only five years would ultimately cause the township to suffer from the effects of managerial laziness and poor performance by employees.

"The worst thing you can do as a (township) is give up your managerial prerogative," said Robert Tagliente, who recently lost his bid for election to the council on the Republican ticket.

Township resident and former Director of Public Works Michael Opaleski — whose retirement was followed by a merging of roles that created the current position of director of parks and public works — adamantly opposed the idea of tenure, arguing that an individual who has served in the same position in one or more municipalities prior to township employment will have his or her years of experience elsewhere count toward their gaining tenure in East Brunswick.

However, township officials disagreed with the idea that the tenure provides an employee protection from being fired even if their performance is poor.

"With tenure, you can get rid of anyone for cause," said Township Business Administrator James White.

The township’s current director of parks and public works, Tom Williams, an employee with East Brunswick for 28 years, has held his current position for about three-and-a-half years. He will qualify for tenure in 2004, White said.

Williams earns $94,000 a year in his position. His responsibilities encompass the supervision of the township’s streets, sanitation, water utility, parks and the Shade Tree Commission.

According to information provided by the township, state statute requires tenure for several other municipal positions, including municipal clerk, court administrator, chief finance officer, tax assessor and tax collector, though that position does not presently carry tenure in East Brunswick.