MILLSTONE – Department of Public Works (DPW) foreman Kenn Gann is now the superintendent of public works and has an annual salary of $60,000.
The resolution appointing Gann to the new position was part of the governing body’s consent agenda at the Sept. 5 Township Committee meeting. Committeeman Elias Abilheira abstained on the vote, which passed 3-0. Committeeman Ray Dilfanian was absent.
At the Aug. 15 Township Committee meeting, Abilheira voted against the creation of the superintendent position. When asked why he did not vote against the consent agenda resolution on Sept. 5, Abilheira said that he does not support the creation of the position and voted against it earlier because cuts were not made in the departments that currently do the work that the superintendent will take over, resulting in a large spending increase.
Mayor Nancy Grbelja said Abilheira’s statement that “no cuts were made” is false. She said the newly created superintendent position replaces the foreman position. She said the township has also not filled its vacant crew chief and operator one positions in the DPW, which has saved money.
“This has saved the department close to $100,000,” she said. “Even with the change of position from foreman to superintendent, the savings to the department is in excess of $85,000.”
Grbelja said that Gann’s overall leadership has turned the DPW around.
“The productivity and efficiency of the department has excelled under his leadership, resulting in additional savings to the residents,” she said. “Mr. Gann is a welcomed asset to the department.”
Abilheira said that Gann works hard for the residents and will do a very good job in the new position. Abilheira said his “no” vote for creating the position is not a reflection
on Gann’s work.
“Had the actual agenda been provided in advance, I probably would have talked to Mr. Gann,” Abilheira said. “Since we do not receive accurate agendas, I could not talk to him in advance so I decided to abstain and [instead] talked to him after the meeting to let him know my vote was not a reflection on his work.”
Abilheira alleged that the agenda the Township Committee gets at the start of each meeting is never the agenda provided to the committee prior to the meeting, nor is it ever the one posted for the public. He added that many of the items covered at the Sept. 5 meeting were not even on the agenda the public and the committee received at the start of the meeting.
The mayor said that Abilheira’s complaint that the advanced agenda he received did not contain the resolution appointing the superintendent is inaccurate. She said Deputy Clerk Nancy Warnick sent the agenda to the entire committee the Friday before the meeting. She provided a copy of the deputy clerk’s e-mail with the attached agenda to confirm the date and time the document was sent to the committee.
Grbelja said that the agenda is a fluid document.
“In order to increase township efficiency, it is not uncommon to have resolutions regarding the acceptance of bids, release of performance bonds, etc., added to the agenda,” she said. “It expedites the township’s ability to conduct business in a timely manner. These items are strictly regulated by law.”
Abilheira also took issue with information that Deputy Mayor Robert Kinsey provided Sept. 5 regarding township spending. He alleged that Kinsey showed a plan to reduce borrowing over twice what the budget calls for back to original budget figures that were already excessive.
“The fact remains that this year we are seeing the largest increase in spending probably in the history of the town,” he said, “and the debt it generates and surplus it depletes will have long-term negative impacts on our taxes.”
Abilheira said it is easy for a politician to say that a budget is only increasing “x” dollars while ignoring an increase in borrowing and a decrease in surplus in the same budget.
“Many taxpayers, however, are very concerned to see a Trenton-like culture toward spending and borrowing creeping into Millstone Township,” he said.
Grbelja called Abilheira’s comments on spending and taxes “inaccurate.”
“Thanks in large part to the fiscal spending controls and accountability standards put in place by our finance liaison, Deputy Mayor Bob Kinsey, the 2007 municipal budget represents the lowest spending increase in the township’s history and uses less township surplus than in prior years while minimizing the use of debt,” she said.
Grbelja added, “I think Trenton could learn a few things from Millstone Township.”