UPPER FREEHOLD – The Township Committee may change the way it doles out salary increases this year.
In a 3-2 vote, the Township Committee passed an ordinance establishing employee salary ranges at its June 19 meeting. Deputy Mayor Bob Faber and Committeeman Stanley Moslowski Jr. cast the dissenting votes.
While the governing body has not yet decided on what percentage to raise employee salaries this year, it intends to introduce merit-based raises in time for next year’s salary ordinance.
During the public hearing, former Mayor Bob Abrams asked if Township Committee members took a salary cut this year and asked the township to freeze other employee salaries this year.
“It’s a tough year for a lot of people – a lot of people in the township are hurting,” he said, citing skyrocketing fuel and food prices.
Abrams advised that during lean times the Township Committee should be conservative and watch spending.
“The threat that someone will leave if they don’t get a raise is foolish,” he said. “Jobs aren’t that plentiful out there.”
Township Administrator Barbara Bascomsaid the members of the governing body have not yet set their own salaries. The newly adopted ordinance set the salary range for the mayor and committee members at $4,000-$7,150.
Last year, the Township Committee voted to cut the mayor’s salary from $6,825 to $5,460 and each committeeman’s pay from $6,195 to $4,956. Municipalities are not forced by law to offer salaries and benefits to their elected officials, but many towns do.
Faber said there is no reason for committee members to take a salary cut this year if other township employees get raises.
“If you figure out how many hours we put in, we’re getting peanuts,” he said.
Committeeman David Reed said the committee looked at township spending for a long time during the budget process.
“Anyplace you can cut is helpful,” he said, adding that he didn’t run for office for the salary.
“It’s a part-time job,” Reed said. “It should be a part-time salary.”
Reed said he does not see a problem with giving other township employees some kind of raise as many do not make much money.
Mayor Steve Alexander also said he didn’t run for office for the salary, but agreed with Faber that officials spend a great deal of time on the job.
“No one is doing it for the money,” he said.
Alexander explained that, currently, all employees get the same percentage of a raise.
“Some people do make a small salary and deserve a raise,” he said. “Things go up for them also, such as gas and taxes.”
Committeewoman Lori Horsnall Mount said that she is a strong believer in rewarding those who do a good job. She said the percentage of the raises given should be performance based.
Mount said that the committee would look to implement a merit-raise program by the end of the summer so the township could give performance-based raises in the future.
“I don’t know of any workplace where you get a raise just because you show up,” she said.
Mount added that committee members said earlier this year that they would take a salary cut this year.
“I believe that’s what we should do, because that’s what we said,” Mount said.