Part-time officials getting full-time health benefits

Sonja Walter, Robbinsville
   In this era of endless political rhetoric, I thought I had heard it all. But Robbinsville Township Council members have topped even themselves.
   Members of council have, for the past two years, supported a budget that provides full-time health benefits to part-time elected officials. We have been paying about $7,500 a year for each of three plans so that Mayor Dave Fried and Councilwoman Christine Ciaccio, who own their own businesses, and Councilman Rich Levesque can enjoy full health coverage at our expense. While each does pay a portion of their salary toward that cost, it only amounts to a token $50 to $100 annual contribution.
   These same elected officials raised our taxes 30 percent last year, laid off employees, furloughed other employees, cut municipal services, and increased spending this year, largely due to the rising cost of health benefits. While others have made sacrifices, it seems as if these three officials are coming out ahead.
   A tremendous amount of blame has been laid at the feet of public-sector employees for the current fiscal state that exists in New Jersey (and beyond). Perhaps we, as taxpayers, should take a closer look at the practices of the elected officials who make all of the rules, then take advantage of them.
Sonja Walter
Robbinsville
The writer is a former township councilwoman who ran unsuccessfully against Mayor Fried in 2009.