By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — The City Council has approved a 3 percent raise for full-time city employees.
”We want to at least recognize the full-time employees,” Mayor David Del Vecchio said. “It was the governing body’s idea.”
The raise is retroactive only to July 1. Prorated for 12 months, the raise is 1.5 percent for 2008, officials pointed out.
”We don’t have highly paid individuals, but they are very dedicated individuals,” Councilwoman Cynthia Ege said when the salary hike first was discussed in July. She did not attend the Sept. 15 meeting when the raises were approved.
The city has 17 full-time employees. The raises will total $10,069.67.
The money for the pay hike is included in the $4.05 million budget that was passed in July, according to Mayor Del Vecchio.
”Ten thousand dollars with this budget wouldn’t dramatically change anything,” he said.
Employees of the Lambertville Public Library, except Director Harold Dunn, will receive the same 3 percent raise, also retroactive to July 1. Mr. Dunn’s salary remains unchanged at $15 an hour. The board of trustees recently approved the pay hike.
No comment from the public precipitated the council’s vote. The brief discussion was uneventful despite the city having to institute a number of revenue-producing measures earlier this year because of lost state aid. The city raised taxes, extended parking meter hours, sold a parking lot and canceled a citywide cleanup known as Sparkle Week.
The closing on the Franklin Street parking lot took place Monday. Assessed at $122,000, it sold for $154,000.
Lambertville’s take was $140,000, and $14,000 went to the auction company that handled the sale.
”It was one of our plans so we can get through this year so we can try to restructure our budget for next year,” Mayor Del Vecchio said Monday night.
To save money, the mayor and all of the members of council declined their stipends this year. The cumulative savings was less than $10,000.
Mayor Del Vecchio has declined his pay for most of his 17 years in office. Councilman Ronald Pittore has done the same since taking office.
Police Director Bruce Cocuzza’s pay will be $74,160. Senior Police Administrative Assistant Sally Lelie’s salary will be $35,831.
Police secretary and clerk assistant Shelley Corrado’s salary will be $26,826. Parking Enforcement Officer Marie Collins’ hourly wage will be $15.22.
Court Administrator Patricia Ahern’s salary will be $36,493. Deputy Court Administrator Barbara Halper’s salary will be $26,578.
Chief Financial Officer Linda Monteverde’s salary will be $43,515. Tax Collector Bonnie Eick’s salary will be $38,116.
Municipal Clerk Lori Buckelew’s salary will be $62,876. Office clerk Marie Rossiter’s hourly wage will be $15.07.
Construction control person and finance assistant Crystal Lawton’s salary will be $27,315.
Public Works Director Paul Cronce’s hourly wage will be $30.10. Public Works foreman Lester Myers Jr.’s hourly wage will be $18.82.
Solid waste driver Matthew Burd’s hourly wage will be $19.32. Public Works operator Robbin Worthington’s hourly wage will be $17.51. Truck drivers David Kerr and Vernon Barlow will make $16.06 an hour and $17.51 an hour, respectively.
Hourly wages for library assistants are Martha Knechel, $11.47; Frances Bardusco, $11.10; Franta Broulik, $10.54; Tekla Hallanan, $10.23; Kathleen McGinnity and Deborah Monigan, $8.91; Betsy Palilonis, $11.19; and Catherine Monigan, $7.50.
New library assistant Lynda Hope will receive $8.24. Children’s librarian Jennifer Sirak’s hourly wage will be $18.39.

