JUNE 12, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Councilman’s question worth considering
to the editor:
During the June 3 Village Council work session, Councilman Michael Sedon asked if the salary of Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld should be reduced in order to offset the “six figure” salary of the newly created position of human resources director. Quite frankly, this question had been on my mind, and Councilman Sedon’s idea was, in my opinion, worth considering.
Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld’s reply included that she is not “outsourcing” any portion of her job, and that she is “still responsible” for human resources. Perhaps, but the fact remains that the overall salary now allocated to manage human resources has abruptly increased by at least $100,000.
Moreover, I was quite surprised to hear Ms. Sonenfeld state that her salary is “already down,” which was followed by a comment from Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck that she thinks Sonenfeld is “already the lowest paid manager in New Jersey,” and by Mayor Paul Aronsohn’s response that he “can’t imagine that [reducing her salary] would be the plan.”
Ms. Sonenfeld’s salary, established by Village Council members, is what she agreed to just over a year ago when she was hired. No one forced her to take the job or the salary. For her to now publicly complain that it is so low, so soon after she came on board, and especially when some of her responsibilities have now been delegated to a new hire, is quite disheartening.
Finally, Ms. Sonenfeld’s tone, when she replied to Councilman Sedon, coupled with the quick dismissal of Sedon’s suggestion by three of his colleagues, illustrates that civility is still not consistently practiced under Mayor Aronsohn’s leadership.
Anne LaGrange Loving
Ridgewood
