|
Pay Raises For Politicians: Hillside Council Wants More Money They have been putting it off for a long time. They've been anxious, desperate, yearning - and finally, they've drummed up the courage to do the unthinkable:
But Town Hall politicians feel that they work so hard and so long that they deserve another $1500. The proposed pay raise would not affect the Mayor's salary. Mayor Karen McCoy-Oliver currently earns $10,000 yearly for a part-time job that her predecessor Barbara Rowen did for nothing. "The current Council refused to pay the former Mayor anything, but as soon as the new Mayor got in, they gave her a $10,000 increase," a source at town Hall confided to the DISPATCH. "It's definitely politics and favoritism." BAD TIMING, BAD IDEA The only official opposed to the raise is Ward Four Councilman Gerald "Pateesh" Freedman, who spoke out against the plan at the Council's last meeting. "The Councilmembers do not have any expenses that merit this increase", he argued, "I didn't think [we ran for office] as a business venture." Freedman voted the only "No" on the ordinance on it's first reading last week. This political pay raise comes as the Union County Freeholders increase their share of the property tax and as Hillside Township property taxes remain one of the highest in the county. The move from the Council also comes just weeks after the governing body eliminated $1 Million from the cash-strapped school district. Town Hall's salary plan has prompted outcries from Hillside school board members. "I though citizens ran for Council for the honor of helping their community, not to make money. School board members also put in long hours and they don't get paid anything at all," school board member Nathalie Yafet said. In fact, many elected and appointed officials do not receive any compensation. Several Union County municipalities do not pay their council or committee members. At least one town pays its officials a token one-dollar. And some mayors earn less than Hillside councilmen do. |
|
|