| Author | Message | ||
     MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1929 Registered: 5-2001  |
Everyone here is discussing the "Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Contract of the Village Administrator", which according to Mark alters Mr. Gross' contract to provide him with 80% of his current salary, even if he is no longer Village Administrator. Nobody can understand what benefit this provides the residents. Can you explain why you voted in favor of this? | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2005 |
Just like lawyers, politicians need to take care of their own. | ||
| Daniel I. Goldberg Citizen Username: Dig Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2004 |
Trustee Rosen heard the questions, but still no answers from him. Surprise? I don't think so. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 952 Registered: 8-2002 |
Just for clarification -- until this vote -- this position was *not* a tenured one? /p | ||
| susan1014 Supporter Username: Susan1014 Post Number: 384 Registered: 3-2002 |
Why would the CFO/Treasurer position be tenured? That seems incredible to me. I don't have a full handle on Mr. Gross's qualifications or lack thereof, but no one should have tenure in city management. (if we are defining tenure the way I understand it) Please someone explain, or let me know what has to be done to change the situation. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1727 Registered: 4-2002 |
There are four positions by NJ statute that have tenure - Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Village Clerk and CFO. The tenure is a function of time (after four years it is automatic) and a resolution is really just a formality. This was done to insure continuity in key positions and that they would not be subject to politics (or you could see all new employees in village hall every time the elected officials change). There were other reasons given and they can all be debated, but since it is the law, we have to abide by it. Basically, I think the statute makes sense. I don't have a copy of the statute, but if anyone wants it I would suggest calling the village clerk to find out how to obtain a copy. | ||
| Daniel I. Goldberg Citizen Username: Dig Post Number: 51 Registered: 8-2004 |
Nothing but silence from Trustee Rosen. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 994 Registered: 6-2001  |
How interesting that the board of trustees saw fit to "re-allocate" the Village Administrator/Treasurer/CFO salaries less than 6 months before a municipal election. According to this post by Mark Rosner in July 2003, the combined Treasurer/CFO salary was about 10 percent of his total monetary compensation. My, how things have changed. During my quick perusal to find that link, it was quite enlightening seeing some of the past threads regarding the SOPAC progress, both its financial status and the construction. Here, Mark Rosner promises to provide financial details when he has them (this is in 2002). Note the last sentence in that post revealing who will be responsible for any fiscal deficits incurred by SOPAC. Here, peteglider reported SIGNIFICANT WORK on the SOPAC site (in 2003): http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3133&post=145765#POST1457 65 No offense, but wouldn't you think more progress should have occurred? | ||
| Walker Citizen Username: Fester Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2003  |
Unfortunately continuity in these positions mean coming soon signs that remain up for five years, the inability to do adequate due diligence there by costing the town large amounts of tax revenue and a complete lack of accountability for those responsible. Well at least now we know we can expect the same for the next few years. Now he has tenure how much harded is it going to be to remove him? | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 995 Registered: 6-2001 |
oh, and here the additional salaries paid to John Gross are characterized as "cost-saving stipends": http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=129&post=83727#POST83727 Okay, I have to stop now. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 1529 Registered: 11-2001  |
I think we're entitled to a refund at this point. Lets see, if 80% is tenured as Treasurer/CFO and 20% is non tenured for Village Administrator then the calculation of annual pay is: Treasurer/CFO 90,000 x 80% = 72,000 Village Administrator 130,000 x 20% = 26,000 Annual Renegotiated Contract should be = 98,000 Less Current Pay = 160,000 Cost savings Renegotiated VA contract = 62,000 For some reason I don't think we have realized a cost savings in this renegotiated contract - why? BTW: This doesn't factor some of the perks previously discussed (ie. Medical Benefit, Car, 457 contributions etc..). | ||
| Josh M. Citizen Username: Jmaxlaw Post Number: 221 Registered: 3-2004 |
1. I was talking about Mary "Walking Conflict of Interest" Theroux stepping down temporarily during discussion. 2. I think we can officially note that Trustee Rosen has officially refused to answer the above questions. Perhaps he will earn the nickname "Trustee Quack"-- as, of course, ducks quack and he is ducking the above simple questions. 3. It is becoming painfully obvious that the Village establishment is scared $*&#less because they are now blantantly protecting their beloved leader, Mr. Gross, from future purging. I think they understand that there are a lot of motivated voters in the Village who will begin their house-cleaning in May. | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 80 Registered: 10-2004 |
How does a public employee get tenure? Why would a municipality volunteer to put itself in a position where it could not easily remove something that is not working out? I really dont know Mr. Gross and I would hope that he is worth what he is getting but I have severe misgivings about giving away something for nothing. If he has tenure what is his motivation to continue to produce? Then again just what exactly has he produced to deserve what he already has? | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 953 Registered: 8-2002 |
As much as we can debate the tenure and salary allocation issue further -- I think we'll run it into the ground and not be productive. Furthermore -- since the incumbents appear to be leaving office - isn't it much more useful to focus on who (and what) will be our options after the next election? Good intentions won't be enough for me to cast my vote in favor of anyone. I'd like to see someone run who has practical experience in making government work. (or similar parallel private experience). Is anyone running who has worked on development or redevelopment? Is anyone running who has experience negotiating contracts, hiring, budgets, grants? etc. etc. I have been on boards before moving to SO. Yes, you need people with specific skill sets as members. But more so, you need people who are willing to take a stand. And quite frankly, you need a full time person (like village administrator?) -- who can take direction, run with it, and make it happen. I would like to hear from candidates soon! Thanks, Pete | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1930 Registered: 5-2001 |
While Dr. Rosen has been mysteriously silent on the issue, don't forget that he has stated this will be his last term as a Trustee. However, don't forget that Steglitz & Taylor also voted for this "deal" which supposedly was also supported by Bill Calabrese. Perhaps now that Christopher Christie has a bit more free time, he will want to pay other towns a visit: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1109141077158440.xml | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 5 Registered: 2-2005 |
Please if they came to Essex County, I think we would have to wait in line to behind all the other Graft and bribary in the more important towns. | ||
| Two Sense Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 30 Registered: 7-2004 |
A few questions for S.O.'s Trustees: 1) As village administrator with financial management duties, is Gross automatically tenured for life as the village CFO, regardless of his job performance? 2) As village administrator, did Gross formulate the proposal to guarantee himself 80% of his current administrator's salary, in the event that he's demoted to chief financial officer? 3) Did Gross, the village's financial manager, or the Board ever contemplate the potential negative financial impact of splitting Gross' position into CFO at 80% and Administrator at 100%? 4) In a world in which corporations rapidly are eliminating employment contract liabilities, and shifting to "employment at will" for even the most senior, most valuable employees, why is South Orange fortifying Gross' already outrageous contract to a tenured role at 80% of his current salary? 5) If Calabrese and the Trustees so value accountability to voters who elected them, why do they continue to insist upon having an administrator who is above scrutiny and review -- protected by contract and ultimately tenure? 6) Is there any Trustee willing to grant a long-term contract or tenure to one of their own employees, or split an employee's job function into two, resulting in an 80% payroll increase? 7) Has South Orange permanently entered the twilight zone of government mismanagement. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 955 Registered: 8-2002 |
Twosense -- without any defense of what was done -- maybe you'd hear something like this? Gross -- at 4 years in the postition, has to be made tenured (I got that from Mark Rosner's earlier post -- this is by law). Then, if the village is required to give him tenure -- then the salaried amount for that position has to be reasonable. And, in the past, positions were combined to save money -- so to be fair, an rquitable amount has to be put towards the tenured portion of the job description - and 80/20 is reasonable. logical, no? I know nothing about removing a tenured administrator, I assume its as difficult at least as removing a tenured teacher. sigh... /p | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1730 Registered: 4-2002 |
Pete: pretty good. only correction - administrator position is not tenured, but CFO position is. | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 998 Registered: 6-2001 |
The village admiministrator position is not tenured, it is contractual. The CFO/Treasurer positions, characterized here as "part-time" and "cost-saving" stipended positions, are. |
