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Message |
    
Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 3234
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:24 am: | 
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I missed yesterday's star ledger but I've been told there is a newsprint story about South Orange and some other towns concerning misreportings of pension benefit allowances to the state. Does anyone know anything about this? |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 3435
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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Pizzaz,
I found this article online: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1141196169314280.xml?starledger? ntop&coll=1
A 1998 report by the state Commission of Investigation found abuses everywhere. South Orange allowed 11 police officers to boost their pensions by counting unused vacation time as salary. Bradley Beach gave several top officials big raises in their final year, and counted sick and vacation time as salary.
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Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 3236
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 12:03 pm: |
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Who was the CFO at the time in South Orange, and how did this pass by the Finance Committee? Plenty of questions, how about some answers? Who was joy riding the patronage button for renewed political clout? It seems people make grand assumptions that the town administration and governing body have their best interests at heart. The reality is totally different as we learn day to day. Furthermore, lifetime medical benefits for the Administrator proves how scandalous it is!
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2614
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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Not sure who the CFO was but seem to remember it being John Mosca (sp?)? I think Barbara Sacks was the administrator (there was about a one year gap between Barbara and John ). The report came out in 1998, but I think it dealt with pension issues for 1997 and earlier.
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Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1477
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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Wouldn't the BOT have to approve something like this? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2615
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:03 pm: |
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SPitz: Not sure what you mean? The issue arose from abuse of overtime. It would fall directly under the duties of the administrator. Overtime should only be used as a last resort not as a tool to increase someone's pension benefit.
If the overtime expense exceeds what is allowed in the budget, the BOT would have to approve, but it would be sort of a moot point by then.
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joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 122
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:10 pm: |
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What was the outcome?
jd |
Spitz
Supporter
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1480
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:48 pm: |
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mark - I was referring to the statement in the article "South Orange allowed 11 police officers to boost their pensions by counting unused vacation time as salary." Wouln't the BOT have to get involved in this? Or was it a decision that didn't require BOT approval,and could be decided by the chief financial officer and Village Administrator? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 2616
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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The reality is that it could happen well before the BOT ever found out. One would hope if there was an abuse of overtime, it would be caught before it got out of hand. The most obvious place for us to pick up on that kind of abuse would be during the budget meetings.
I had already requested (about 3 weeks ago) a complete review of all overtime last year.
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Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 463
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 8:30 am: |
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The CBAC has as well asked that the Salary Budget include for past years actuals (by Department) both Salary and O/T. |
Pizzaz
Supporter
Username: Pizzaz
Post Number: 3246
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 1:44 pm: |
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How is the documentation submitted to the state for this reporting error. A signature(s) must appear somewhere.....I'm sure it includes the CEO's signature, no? |
dfc
Citizen
Username: Dfc
Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
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Police and firemens pensions are base on their base salary. Overtime can't be used in pension calculations. Any one time salary adjustment such as using unused sick time that is used to raise a pension is usually kicked out by the computer in Trenton and your salary gets reviewed by a person. The article in the Star Ledger said that South Orange allowed them to increase their salary by using unused sick time, it does not say if their pensions were allowed because of this. |
Old and Gray
Citizen
Username: Pastmyprime
Post Number: 323
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 4, 2006 - 4:48 pm: |
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Unused Vacation time, not sick time.
What is the alternative, a lump sum payout after retirement? |
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