By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — The Township Committee voted to give itself a pay cut last week in recognition of cutbacks faced by municipal employees this year.
An amendment to the township’s salary ordinance was approved Thursday night, reducing the salaries of the committee members and mayor by 10 percent.
The original salary ordinance was adopted at the committee’s Sept. 17 meeting. It established annual compensation for the mayor of $5,562 and $4,169 for each member of the committee, the same as last year.
This township’s $28.5-million budget for 2009, adopted by the committee in May, reflected a salary freeze for nonunion employees, employee layoffs and hour reductions.
The amendment was expected to be adopted last month, however, it had to be reintroduced by the committee as a result of a typographical error.
In other business at the meeting, the committee authorized the settlement of two residential tax appeals, following an executive session to discuss them with their counsel.
Both settlements were reached after the property owners filed appeals in New Jersey Tax Court.
In the first settlement, DeLucia v. Township of Montgomery, regarding a property on Mountainview Road, the assessment was reduced from $1,967,100 to $1,500,000, according to the resolution.
And in the second settlement, Cashman v. Township of Montgomery, regarding a property on Scenic Hills Court, the assessment was reduced from $795,900 to $638,000, according to the resolution.
The committee also gave its blessing to township police Capt. Robert Palmer’s proposed schedule for the promotion of a member of the force to the rank of sergeant.
Capt. Palmer said a written exam for candidates would be administered later this month, which would be followed by interviews and other reviews, with an appointment scheduled for the Dec. 17 committee meeting.
The committee also authorized a shared services agreement with Millstone Borough for the use of the township’s equipment and crew for leaf pickup.
At a cost of $4,800, the borough will rent the township’s equipment and crew for one day on a Saturday in December, Township Administrator Donato Nieman said.
The equipment would otherwise be idle, and overtime will be paid for by Millstone Borough, he added.
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