CNBNews

William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (April 21, 2024)(CNBNews)--The mayor and council of Gloucester City are planning to purchase the former PNC Bank property located at 500 Monmouth Street. They are expected to approve a $550,000 bond ordinance to fund the purchase during Monday night's (April 22) council meeting. The bond will have a term of 20 years. The PNC office in Gloucester City ceased its operations several months ago. The building has served as a bank for over 75 years.

The council is also expected to approve on second reading the police department's salary schedule for patrolmen and officers. The PBA union has been working without a contract since 2022. The new salary schedule starts in 2022 and runs until 2026.  Beginning in 2022, the starting salary begins at a low of  $54,563 for a recruit to a high of $153,965 for a captain in 2026.  Salaries are retroactive from 2022. 

The 39-member Gloucester City Police Department is one of the highest-paid police departments in the state of New Jersey.  

In March, the council approved a salary schedule for Brian Morrell, who is the part-time police chief and part-time city administrator. The resolution was titled "Salaries for Employees Serving in Titles with Salary Ranges." It was mentioned in the schedule that the salary of the police chief is $185,000, and the wages for the city administrator's position is $45,000 for a total of $230,000. The administrator's position, which is the most essential job in the city, has been vacant for the past four years. 

Other salaries of note approved in that resolution include the public works supt. $116,175; fire chief, $129,323; chief housing inspector, $77,250; city clerk, $99,451; court administrator, $88,984. Several new positions include website maintenance, $500; tax search officer, $2,200; recycling aide, $4,500; fire safety officer, $5,000; employee benefit clerk, $2,550.

Unfortunately, the City of Gloucester City doesn't name the people who hold these titles. As a result, taxpayers are left wondering if family members of council members or their friends hold these positions. 

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