Mayor William Corboy:‘Read my lips: There is no money’
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — If the township runs out of money later this year, there may be fewer police officers patrolling West Amwell.
The township sent a notice to the PBA April 17 of a possible need to lay off some of the force.
The notice sparked a tense face-off between a patrolman’s wife and the mayor during a May 6 meeting of the Township Committee, resulting in the mayor telling her to “read my lips.”
Elise Ennis, of West Amwell, who is married to Officer John Ennis, told the mayor, “You’re targeting the PBA.”
The township had asked its officers to give up a 4 percent raise this year for a savings of about $15,000. No headway was made.
”Basically, the PBA members (five officers) are being punished for adhering to our contract as we were the only ones to receive layoff notices,” Officer Ennis said in an e-mail interview. “I met with the committee twice. Their idea of renegotiate is give us your raise back, end of story.”
He added, “As far as the township claiming they have no money? They have it. They would rather pay attorneys with it than their employees.”
The PBA offered to negotiate, but “Mayor Corboy has not contacted me and I can only assume that the mayor and council reconsidered their decision to reopen negotiations,” Tim McGuire, president of PBA Local 188, has said.
The police officers have a contract with the township, unlike some of the township’s other employees who were given a pay cut. Without a voluntary giveback from officers, the only choice open to the township is to request furloughs or layoffs.
Ms. Ennis grilled Mayor William Corboy about other options for saving money. She suggested the township sell a fire truck and also suggested reducing municipal court expenses, among other things.
”Did the court get layoff notices?” Ms. Ennis asked. “What’s the purpose of a court if there are no police officers?”
She also noted officers now must “give up” 50 percent of their overtime.
The mayor later said, “When you start approaching $100,000 a year in overtime, something is wrong. One hundred thousand dollars a year for overtime in this township is ridiculous.”
The Township Committee slashed overtime by half for a savings of about $45,000.
To increase revenue, the township also instituted a $75 fee for six months of trash-hauling service.
”I have to pay for my garbage now,” Ms. Ennis said. “Now there’s no police.”
Mayor Corboy continually responded to Ms. Ennis with the explanation, “There is no money.”
Ms. Ennis clearly did not accept that explanation. She continued to hammer at him for an explanation.
The mayor, a man who does not easily fluster in public situations, finally blurted, “Read my lips: There is no money.”
Mayor Corboy said the decision to lay off officers is entirely dependent upon the township’s financial situation. Right now, finances are in limbo.
West Amwell’s budget is pending, waiting for a decision from the state concerning the township’s request for extraordinary aid. The township needs $200,000. No one knows if the state will grant the requested amount, a lesser amount or maybe even nothing at all. A decision is expected from the state sometime in July.
Officials have said the shortage stems from legal fees. At least half of the needed amount has been attributed to the township’s defense of a lawsuit filed by a West Amwell farming family, which includes a former mayor. The family and two of its corporations allege the township reneged on the terms of a General Development Plan.
In addition to alleging the township breached the development agreement, the lawsuit also challenges the township’s reserve septic ordinance. The suit claims the ordinance reduces the value of hundreds of acres along Lambertville-Rocktown Road so the township may purchase development rights at a lower price.

