MANALAPAN — At its final meeting of 2011 this afternoon, Dec. 21, the Township Committee is expected to vote to adopt an ordinance that will modify the table of organization for the Manalapan Police Department.
The ordinance was introduced in a 5-0 vote at the committee’s Dec. 7 meeting.
According to the ordinance, the existing authorized membership of the police department consists of the following number of sworn officers holding the ranks indicated: one chief of police; two captains; five lieutenants; six sergeants; and 41 patrol officers. The total number of sworn officers is 55.
The ordinance states that the current number and ranks of sworn members of the police department will be modified and ad- justed until such time as the following number of officers holding the ranks indicated will exist as authorized by the permanent table of organization: one chief of police; two captains; three lieutenants; seven sergeants; and 45 patrol officers. The total number of sworn officers will be 58.
According to the ordinance, “It is the preference of the township, as a matter of policy, that changes in the current table of organization necessary to achieve the permanent table of organization in the police department be made by means of attrition rather than by demotions or layoffs.
“The right is reserved to the Township Committee, however, to determine in its sole discretion if demotions or layoffs should be made due to economic and budgetary considerations in order to effect the permanent table of organization of the police department.”
In other business at the Dec. 7 meeting, the committee adopted a salary ordinance that is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2011. The vote to adopt the salary ordinance was 5-0 and no one from the public commented when given the opportunity to do so.
Salaries to be paid in Manalapan include the following:
Mayor, $7,500 (maximum).
Township Committee member, $7,500 (maximum).
Township Administrator, range of $80,000 to $120,000.
Assistant Administrator, range of $45,000 to $75,000.
Municipal Clerk, range of $45,000 to $90,000.
Judge of the municipal court, range of $17,500 to $45,000.
Township Prosecutor, $40,000 (maximum).
Township Public Defender, $15,000 (maximum).
Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, range of $65,000 to $110,000.
Construction code official, range of $35,000 to $103,000.
Police Chief, range of $75,000 to $162,000.
Code enforcement/zoning officer, range of $30,000 to $64,000.
Superintendent of recreation, range of $35,000 to $83,000.
And, the committee voted 5-0 to appoint Regina Preteroti as municipal clerk. Preteroti has been serving as Manalapan’s acting municipal clerk for more than a year. Officials said Preteroti has earned the certification an individual must possess to be named a municipal clerk.
Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz announced that employees of the Construction Department and the Department of Public Works have completed renovations at the new offices of the Manalapan Recreation Department on Route 522 in front of the Manalapan Recreation Center. The improvements include an upgraded parking area and a ramp to the building that will make it easier for people who have a disability to enter the recreation offices.
At the start of the meeting, township officials recognized the members of the Mayor’s Gala committee who organized that recent event. The Mayor’s Gala committee presented a check for $9,000 to Tony Morelli, the president of the Board of Trustees of the Samaritan Center.
Morelli, a former mayor of Manalapan, thanked Mayor Andrew Lucas, the Township Committee and the Mayor’s Gala committee for the contribution.
The Samaritan Center provides food to residents in need in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone Township.
And, the governing body recognized Manalapan High School varsity football coach Ed Gurrieri and the Braves, who posted a 10-2 record in 2011 and won the Shore ConferenceANorth Division title for the second straight year.
Manalapan reached the championship game of the Central Jersey Group IV state playoffs, losing to Sayreville War Memorial High School in the finals played at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway on Dec. 3.