BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD — Town leaders squared off over employee salaries last week during a Township of West Milford council meeting.
Mayor Bettina Bieri, obviously frustrated when the Township of West Milford Council delayed action on the town's salaries and compensation vote, has tried since March to open the discussion before the council.
As a result of the delay, action on an ordinance concerning salaries and compensation for administrative, confidential and unaffiliated township employees was tabled for a fourth time.
The procedural vote is needed so Bieri can hear the council members' concerns and questions.
Council President Tim Wagner was supported by the rest of the council in his decision to delay action on the proposed ordinance until an efficiency audit of township offices and personnel, now in progress, is completed.
He said that year after year salary increases are automatically given and he wants to have a credible review of jobs, the salary for people doing them and credentials of those holding the jobs.
“I want all of the information in front of me,” Wagner said in the discussion at a recent council meeting. "I’m trying to make the best decision for the township. Each year, salaries and pension costs increase. I’m gun shy when it comes to voting for increases. I’m not trying to make assumptions.”
Wagner accused Bieri of grandstanding when she reminded the council that they recently offered the departing recreation director Tim Roetman more money to stay in the job. He left this year for a better paying job in Wayne.
Councilman Luciano (Lou) Signorino not only saw the mayor’s reference as grandstanding, but saw it as politicizing, too. He accused the mayor of being disrespectful to the residents and taxpayers.
“You may not like that I’m here, but I have been here 11 years and seen a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise from people who are all working together in an objective manner," replied Mayor Bieri. “I take great offense to the charge of grandstanding. I am just trying to do the right thing.
"The employees do their jobs well and deserve to be treated fairly," she said. "Call it what you want. I got nothing but silence after three attempts to hear your concerns. I hope they were addressed.”
Bieri told the council their lack of action on the salary ordinance tells department heads they are not entitled to raises.
No person should be valued higher than the other with every employee deserving the same salary increase, she said.
The mayor said the council asked for information about the employees, their salaries and credentials and the requested information was provided in their packets.
Before the latest meeting, the administration gave notification to employees that the issue was being discussed at an upcoming meeting. That action drew criticism from the council, though Bieri saw no reason for any discussion on the subject to be held in executive, closed-door discussion.
“Sometimes unfortunately, doing the right thing is not the easy thing,” Councilman Peter McGuinness said.