Courier-Post Staff
HADDON TWP. The last of the legal battles between Haddon Township Commissioner Kathleen Hogan and Mayor William J. Park has come to an end.
In a decision filed Dec. 1, U.S. District Court Judge Jerome B. Simandle issued summary judgment in favor of the defendants.
Simandle noted in his decision the running mates became political enemies shortly after the election, when Park and Commissioner James T. Broderick failed to second Hogan's motion to provide health benefits to elected officials.
The township provides health benefits only to full-time employees. Commissioners are considered part-time employees. [emphasis CNBNews]
Comment:
A Letter to the Editor published in the GCN 11/30/06 issue "Objecting to Negative Aspect of Words Printed by Mr. Cleary" that stated in part, "Members of City Council get paid an annual salary of $1,000, and the mayor receives $2,500. For the hours that are put in by these individuals I believe you can basically call them volunteers."
Cleary writes,
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (December 11, 2006)--That may be their stripend but they also receive paid health benefits for themselves and their family. Unlike the Commissioners in Haddon Township who do not receive that benefit since they consider themselves part-time. Also members who volunteer their time to serve on the Gloucester City School Board are not entitled to health benefits since they too are part-time volunteers. Which is the way it should be.
Incidentally here in Gloucester City some council members who receive their health benefits from there employer are entitled to be reimbursed from the City for not accepting the city's health plan.
The payments to those city council members in some cases have reached as high as $10,000 annually. A nice part-time job especially when our local politicians lead the public to believe they are only receiving an annual salary of $1,000.
I propose to the new members of council (The James Gang) to introduce a measure to stop part-time workers/volunteer council members from receiving health benefits. Likewise the measure should do away with reimbursing council members for not accepting the city's health plan.
The change in this perk for volunteer service on city council would go a long way in setting the "bar" for future tax cuts that are needed in this city if any changes are going to be made. By setting the example at the top city employees will see it is not going to be the same "Good Ole Boys/Girls Club" any longer.
Bill Cleary, CNBNews Editor
Publisher Emeritus Gloucester City News/Camden County Record
Comments posted DECEMBER 2006
Bill
Your numbers may be low with respect to health benefits. It was reported during the SID era that the health benefit package for Rep. Joe Roberts crony was $12,000.00. At that rate the buy back policy yields $500.00 a month from day one for a part time job. My mother worked full time all her life for a maximum social security benefit of $401.00 at the time of her death.