CNB ARCHIVES: ONLY IN NJ...The Gravy Train Continues to Roll for Select Groups of Public Employees
Thursday, August 27, 2015
CNB ARCHIVES POSTED Monday, December 14, 2009
Retiring Gloucester City Employees share in benefit payouts ranging from from $500 to $100,000...Firemen and Police receive the most
By William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNewsnet
A 100 plus page report titled The Beat Goes On looks at the abuse in public employees benefit programs in 75 municipalities across the State of New Jersey.The report was released earlier this month by the State Commission of Investigation. Members include: W. Gary Edwards, Joseph R Mariniello Jr., Patrick E. Hobbs and Robert J. Martins.
Although Gloucester City was not cited in the report 19 retiring employees in that community received payouts for sick leave and vacation time that totaled nearly $500,000 in the past five years. Retiring police and firemen received the highest payouts. A complete list of the payouts appear below.
From the report summary, “Municipal employees collecting bonuses for working on their birthdays or when they leave their jobs. Still others receive multiple paid days off for not being sick or for donating; extra cash on top of regular pay for perfect attendance at work; and paid holidays for moving personal belongings, or to go Christmas shopping.
“At a time of economic distress unprecedented since the Great Depression – with government budgets depleted and austerity the theme of the day even in the private sector – the gravy train continues to roll without impediment for select groups of employees on the public payroll. The Commission examined a statewide cross-section of local government employment policies, contracts and agreements involving a comprehensive mix of police, fire and civilian personnel and, in addition to extraordinary specialty perks like those described, found a lucrative array of questionable benefit practices that collectively cost New Jersey taxpayers millions of dollars every year, including:
• Inconsistent, non-existent and/or inadequate restrictions or caps on the accrual and cashing-in of unused accumulated sick, vacation and other leave at retirement, a phenomenon that enables select local government employees to collect, in addition to generous pensions, lump-sum payouts sometimes ranging well into six figures and in amounts larger than the equivalent of a full year’s salary.
• Costly allocation of various forms of so-called “terminal leave,” including arrangements that allow local public employees to stay on the public payroll, using up accrued sick time and other leave at full salary and benefits, occupying a position without showing up for work – in some cases for up to a year – prior to retirement.
• Inordinate amounts of vacation, compensatory time and/or personal days off at full pay.
• Generous health insurance benefits with no requirement that local government employees – unlike their colleagues at the State level – contribute toward the cost of the coverage premium.
Gov.-elect Chris Christie told The Press of Atlantic City that local-government abuses like this are part of the reason why state taxes are so high.
“This stuff is ridiculous and it’s the kind of stuff that drives the voters crazy. Drives them ... crazy,” Christie said. Christie said he supports following the federal model of barring retiring workers from cashing out their sick time.
“Either use sick leave or you don’t, but you don’t cash it out,” he said. “You cash out vacation time, and I understand that. There’s a value that has been delivered to the taxpayer for that, and that makes sense to me. But cashing out sick time makes no sense to me. I just don’t believe that’s what sick time was for. Sick time is for when you are sick. And if you’re fortunate enough not to be sick, should you be paid for not being sick? I mean, really, it just doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Although Gloucester City was not cited in this report it is interesting to note that some City employees like some of those that were singled out by the Commission do quite well when they retire.
In the past five years 19 employees have retired from the City of Gloucester City receiving a total of $487,102. A breakdown of the figures reveals:
W. Johnson, Sr. Chief of Police 12/16/2004
Sick $44,679 vacation $19,364 TOTAL $ 64,042
W. James Deputy Chief of Police 12/31/2004
Sick $40,263 vacation $3,806 TOTAL $44,069
R. Wright Lieutenant Fire Depart. 12/31/2004
Sick $29,056. TOTAL $ 29,056
J. Thompson Firefighter/EMT 12/31/2004
Sick $4,928 vacation $2,615 TOTAL $7, 5443
C. Weston Assistant Violations Clerk 5/12/2006
Sick $9,372 vacation $1,019 TOTAL $10,392
J. Hargraves Construction Official 8/31/2006
Sick $963 vacation $2,610 TOTAL $3,583
R. Saunders Lieutenant Fire Depart. 8/31/2006
Sick $724 vacation $21,423 TOTAL $22,147
T. Ritchie Confidential Aide to Mayor 1/04/2007
Sick $1,580 vacation $658 TOTAL $ 2,238.46
D. Souder Public Works Supervisor 6/30/2007
Sick $15,000 vacation $6,196 TOTAL $21,196
J. Gorman Public Works Supervisor 6/01/2007
Sick $4,338 vacation $4,296 TOTAL $8,634.07
V. Rocco Equipment Operator 6/01/2007
Sick $395 vacation$2,480 TOTAL $ 2,875.13
W. Glassman, Jr. Firefighter/EMT 10/18/2007
Sick $1,429 TOTAL $1,429
M. Walters Firefighter/EMT 10/31/2008
Sick $1,897 vacation ($1,114) TOTAL $783
J. Boden Laborer 9/01/2008
Sick ($329) vacation $742 TOTAL $413
C. Reinhardt Police Officer 4/01/2009
Sick $38,444 vacation $104 TOTAL $38,548
G. Skinner Laborer 4/30/2009
Sick $4,339 TOTAL $4,339
J. Johnson Director of Public Works 11/30/2009
Sick $20,000 vacation $5,812 TOTAL $25,812
The following retirees did not receive pay for sick or vacation leave. However, they received the following: Date of Retroactive Pay Settlement Separation from 7/1/05 of Claims
W. Crothers Chief of Police 8/31/2009
$52,272 and $47,728 TOTAL $100,000
M. Kaye Deputy Chief of Police 8/31/2009
$50,173 and $49,827 TOTAL $100,000
Gloucester City Councilman Nick Marchese, Finance Committee chairman was asked what was being done to change this practice. Mayor William James, Councilmen Jay Brophy and Marchese were elected in 2006 to their first term in office and took office in 2007.
Marchese states, “Since we took office in 2007, the finance Committee with Mayor and Council consent have removed annual sick time buy back, vacation bonuses, and longevity pay from all non-represented city employees. This includes all city department heads. At retirement these same employees separation pay has also been changed to capping the total amount of sick time to retire with to $15,000. After 20 years of service has been completed. Approximately $100,000 over the past three years has been saved due to these reductions.
“The same non-represented employees have done without these benefits while the city’s union represented employees have still enjoyed these benefits for the past three years. Mayor James and Council have been trying to convince our union employees that like the rest of the state, these benefits can no longer continue.
“I believe a fair annual raise should be given to all employees, but without these additional benefits.
“A typical example of an average city employee earning a salary of $ 67,000. + Or - could buy back accumulate unused sick time each year in the amount of $ 6,000. + Or -, and then receive $ 2,700, + or - in longevity pay with an additional
$ 1,400, + or - vacation bonus, bringing their annual salary up to $ 77,100. These are the figures you don’t read about in an advertised salary ordinance. This is a hypothetical scenario; some collect more and some less.
“Annual raises have been eliminated for all city employees for 2009 because of the States mandates of not allowing municipalities to raise taxes more than 4 % which has been instilled on every community in the State. The unions have stated they are not willing to give up any of these benefits and also will not agree to a contract without a raise for 2009 and 2010. This is why contracts have not been approved for any city employees in 2009 or 2010 and why our Police and Fire union represented employee contracts are currently in arbitration costing the city and the unions thousands of dollars in attorney fees. More cooperation is needed and some empathy should be utilized by all parties so our community can come together to help all of the hard working tax payers of our Municipalities, State and Country.”
Comments
only in NJ does a firefighter or police officer have to pay 8% into their own pension.No other state or job in NJ pays this much.Also, these men and woman are not allowed to collect Social Security unless they work an entirely different career after retiring.So,these men and woman try to save as much of their sick days to cover them if God forbid they have an accident out side of work.It is also frowned upon to call out in Gloucester City; because it causes overtime.So under civil service these men and women get 12 or 15 days a year sick and don't use them when other people in other careers take mental health days.....I guess you saying they shouldn't be compensated?
These men and woman also work holidays and weekends.....
nobody here feels your pain stop crying and be happy you have jobs.maybe if top administrators were not raping the tax payers there would be more for the little guys but there isn't.consolidation of services is greatly needed in Gloucester city police and fire departments.
you pay 8 % of your salary for a guarantee of 65% of your last year's salary, for the rest of your life, with complete benefits, after 25 whole years. NOBODY gets that. You CHOOSE not to pay into Social Security, so that your pay is about $400.00 more take home dollars a month. Ask your PBA President to petition th state to let you in. I'm sure that'll go over big. You work nights? and weekends? Welcome to the new age, so does everyone else. I'll defend a police or fireman til the day I die. But you lose your moral standing when you pull that "woe is me" crap.
I think if you took time to read the report The Beat Goes On you'll asked the moderator of this site to withdraw your comment. There is no way that public employees can justify the perks they have today. Full benefits for your family bank your sick leave and vacation time and cash out at the end of your career, come on u dont actually believe you are being picked on do you?
Go talk to some of the refinery workers who were laid off last week and see if they have any sympathy with your plight.
Lets see if you can find yourself another job where you work 9 days a month and get paid overtime for 24 hours if you are called in to work a 10th day in the month. The majority of the time you are on duty you sit around an watch TV or sleep.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PERKS WERE HANDED OUT OVER MANY YEARS OF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IN LEW OF PAY INCREASES. DOES IT REALLY MATTER IF THE PERSON TAKES A SICK DAY OR A VACATION DAY OR IF HE GETS PAID FOR THAT SAME DAY LATER. PAY ME NOW OR PAY ME LATER.
I am glad to see that you singled out the non union reps and how they lost longevity, vacation buyback, sicktime buyback, opt out for insurance, increase in living raise, Holiday bonus and any raise at all for the last three years.... Some of the employees of gloucester have bitten the bullet and continue to get the shaft like individuals doing promotional jobs for years and not being compensated for them.... Some employees are hurting just like everyone else but the time has come to give them their deserved pay since the other depts. got their promotions...
Here is a perfect example of how screwed up our mayor and council are. Notice how much Crothers and Kaye got in their retirement settlement. You cannot just stop paying someone longevity and cap their sick time. The two prior chiefs (James and Johnson) got an average of 50,000 each. Because of the flat-out inexperience and running the city like its a dictatorship we paid Crothers and Kaye an additional 50,000 each. Plus we had to pay for their attorneys and probably the smartest man out of them all: John Kearney. Sounds like the City has no idea what its doing and will continue to cost us money in lost Arbitrations and Lawsuits because they CANNOT just remove a benefit from an employee. Especially the Police and Fire Department, who are legally not allowed to strike in order to ensure the very safety of you cowards that are on here trashing them. Police Officers and Firefighters have an entirely different job than any other profession; be it public or private. One only has to look to July 4th, or to the four slain cops in Washington to understand that the dangers of their job has a cost that none of us can put a price tag on. The City will force Arbitration and they will lose, just like they lost to Crothers and Kaye. The amount of money you are complaining about will triple by the time its over. Marchese can try to make our police and fire look bad all he wants. It is him and his crew's bad decisions that have put us in the whole they are claiming we are in. They sure dont have any problems continuing to spend our "bankrupt" city funds on hiring their friends for no-show jobs and making idiotic purchases like Chatham Square. Hey Marchese, why dont you sit down with the unions and be realistic instead of running your mouth through Cleary. We all know what the outcome of Arbitration is going to be. Maybe the unions will take a zero percent raise if all of you guys submit your resignation and we can elect someone in that will carry out the promises you guys made 3 years ago. Give me a break, I guess the sky is falling in Gloucester City.
To taxpayers and Frank...,
I never said I was a fireman or policemen.I actually just lost my job.The 13th was my last day as a "refinery worker".I was given a choice retire and get 2,000.00 for each year I worked there or refuse it and some day I might get rehired back.I took the money.
I still don't think what the city of Gloucester is doing is right.If it were the Mayor who just retired would return his money.
It is one thing to stop a practice before someone is hired it is another to invest 23 years into something and then be told you don't deserve what you were promised or contracted with.
I don't feel it is right what happened to me nor do I feel it is right what this city administration is trying to do.
And it is obvious that the people signing on here are council and city administrators just trying to get an up on contract negotiations by getting citizens support....
Oh. I didn't know they didn't get raises. So their salaries are really low, right? WRONG!!!!
how about Nick and his boys giving up their benefits like he said he would that will save money
HIRE MORE HOUSING INSPECTORS. THE CITY LOOKS GREAT VACANT!
- See more at: http://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2009/12/retiring-gloucester-city-employees-share-in-benefit-payouts-ranging-from-500-to-100000.html#more
Wasn't Paul Kain in charge of our GIVE AWAY PROGRAM?