Spending questioned

By: centraljersey.com
The year 2010 was a difficult year for many of us and our families. We saw jobs lost, raises eliminated, and salaries cut. Add to that the burden of rising municipal taxes in Bordentown Township and it is no wonder that many residents’ household budgets are stretched to the limit.
In light of all of this, it is hard for me to comprehend why the Bordentown Township Committee saw it appropriate to award over $35,000 in year-end bonuses to five municipal employees, most of it going to the three highest paid workers in the township, one of whom has an income of over $100,000 per year.
More outrageous than that is the fact that Committeepersons Michael Dauber and Anita DiMattia, along with Mayor Bruce Hill first proposed bonuses of up to $30,000 a piece for those three workers, and scaled that back only after protests from Committeemen Jason Medina and William Morelli.
If residents were unaware of this generous post- Christmas gift, it is because it was quietly approved at a special meeting held on Dec. 30 at 4:30 in the afternoon-a time when most residents were unable to attend and offer their opinions and comments. Mr. Medina was alone in his opposition to this resolution. Several of the bonus recipients are employees who have taken over some of the duties of former Township Administrator Len Klepner who was forced out his position last June. The public was advised that this was completely voluntary, without compensation, and that these employees could perform these duties within normal working hours.
Part of the funds for these bonuses were transferred from the Community Development Office, where Barbara Woolley-Dillon was putting in up to 85 hour weeks and being paid for 28 hours, and were designated to fund a clerical assistant. Ms. Woolley-Dillon was performing the duties of both Community Development director and township planner, and spending untold hours performing clerical tasks as well. Her reward for taking on these extra duties was constant harassment, criticism, and finally termination from her position. The vindictive actions of the Township Committee have resulted in a lawsuit that promises to be costly to the residents of the township.
In a year when the Township Committee significantly raised taxes on so many of us (the largest increase in municipal taxes in at least 10 years), awarding bonuses was an improper and imprudent use of taxpayer money.
Jim Cann Bordentown Township