The township health officer has requested $68,000 more in the 2000-2001 budget than the township manager recommended.
By: Matthew Armstrong
The Township Council promised to overhaul the township Health Department after concerns were raised about the department’s 2001 budget Tuesday night.
The Township Council made the promise after a meeting with the Advisory Board of Health, a meeting at which the health officer requested $68,000 more for its 2001 budget than the township manager recommended.
Township Manager Matt Watkins recommended a 2001 budget of $396,501 for the Health Department. However, Health Officer Steve Papenberg submitted a budget request of $454,400 to the Township Council.
"I have full confidence in our manager and financial officer and don’t think they would have budgeted less than what you could live on," said Councilwoman Carol Barrett. "I don’t want to impose more taxes on residents when it’s clear that with proper control you can provide the services and meet the needs of our residents."
In 2000, the Health Department budgeted $377,603 and spent approximately $319,000.
"We have a 29 percent increase from last year’s expended budget and this year’s proposed budget," said Councilman Frank Gambatese. "That’s not an acceptable number. Between last year’s expended and the manager’s recommendation is a 15 percent increase. That seems like enough."
The major difference between the two recommendations is the creation of a new, assistant health officer position and a part-time secretary.
"I presented a budget that I thought would best meet the needs of the township in the future," said Mr. Papenberg.
The new position would raise the cost of total full-time wages to $301,500. The manager’s recommendation is $263,073.
Mr. Papenberg said that new state standards health boards will have to comply with will place more work on the health officer and therefore an assistant is needed to carry out the regular duties of the health officer.
"Under the new state minimum standards there will be a lot of assessment and planning required of the health officer, which will take me away from my regular duties," said Mr. Papenberg.
Other needs are increasing that will require more from the Board of Health including hepatitis B inoculations, West Nile virus monitoring and geese control.
There was also a difference in money allocated for part-time employees in the two recommended budgets. The township manager recommended $61,800 for part-time employees, whereas the health officer recommended $83,500. The disparity is due to the request for a part-time secretary and to cover increased hours for the environmental health inspector.
The council questioned the need for the new full- and part-time positions and the health officer’s recommended salary for these positions. The salary recommended by the health officer for the assistant health officer is approximately $69,000.
"Why would the assistant health officer be making so much more than assistant health officers in neighboring towns," said Councilman Edmund Luciano.
Mr. Papenberg said the position was needed and that the salary was based on the person’s abilities and is comparable to other assistant department heads in the township.
The council said the proposed salary was too high and that other assistant department heads did not start at that salary level. They also questioned the need for a secretary.
Advisory Board of Health member Edward Peloquin said a secretary was needed to record the minutes of board meetings and other clerical duties. An advisory board member cited an instance in 1999 when it failed to apply for a $50,000 grant because it did not have a secretary to prepare the grant.
This angered the council and residents at the meeting who said there is no excuse for missing an opportunity at a grant. Upon reviewing the 1999 budget, it was found that the Health Department had enough funding to hire a professional to prepare the grant application.
"To think we lost out on a grant because there was no one to type it up is unbelievable," said Mr. Gambatese.
"The township needs to hire a grant specialist to apply for these grants and who will receive a commission on the money they bring in," said John Pecilunas of Common Sense, a local citizens watchdog group. "It is criminal to think we lost the opportunity to get a $50,000 grant."
Mr. Papenberg said Wednesday that he does not remember exactly why the grant was not applied for but said he thinks that there were other circumstances that made them decide not to apply for the grant and the lack of the secretary was probably not the reason. "The point was that we could do more things if we had a secretary," said Mr. Papenberg. Discussions broke down soon after the debate over a secretary began and the council said it would be considering major changes within the Health Department.
"Clearly we should meet in executive session to discuss personnel problems in this department," said Ms. Barrett. "It’s obvious we have a problem that must be rectified."
"I am far more worried about this department than I was prior to this discussion and maybe we need an overhaul of the entire department," said Mayor Debra Johnson.
Mr. Papenberg said the new state standards are the driving force behind the requested budget increase, but the final decision rests with the council, which acts as the official Board of Health.
"They are responsible for determining the authority and responsibility of the department," said Mr. Papenberg. "Hopefully there’s some room to work with the two recommendations, but that’s their decision.