File Photo by Boyd Loving Village Hall looks to avoid going further underwater
Ridgewood Council concerns postpone vote on merit pay
Thursday January 17, 2013, 2:03 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News
An attempt to control wages earned by village management and non-unionized employees drew a series of financial and administrative concerns, prompting the Village Council to postpone its vote on two ordinances that would have approved a zero percent salary increase but allow incentive-based raises.
Council members identified their specific concerns with the two ordinances, while general uncertainty over salary structure and processes loomed over Wednesday night’s discussion. Also hanging over the heads of council members were fiscal revelations unveiled in a 44-page report recently filed by Ridgewood’s Tiger Team, a volunteer financial committee.
The ordinances essentially created a salary freeze for those village employees, but the same workers had the potential to earn as much as a 1.9 percent increase following performance-based evaluations. The merit raise, which is based on various evaluations and ultimately determined by the village manager, fundamentally creates a new base salary.
Ridgewood’s manager is excluded from the merit raise schedule; the position’s salary is determined and voted on annually by the Village Council.
Councilman Tom Riche, who was a staunch supporter of incentive raises when the village first rolled out the idea several years ago, objected to the omission of the village manager from performance-based raises. Riche also voted against the original introduction of the two ordinances last month.
The council needs to take a serious look at the recommendations in the report that just came out. Merit based incentives are great, But, without reducing other areas of guaranteed compensation, they would just make the current situation worse. As far as the Village Manager goes, I don’t know how his buddy Richie or others could possibly justify paying him more than the Governor of NJ, given the financial nightmare he has overseen. He should be given a reduction in pay!
or the nightmare Gabbert had when he took over from JTH. But that’s in the past. I think the point Richie was making was to keep us out of a lawsuit. IN human resources you can’t single any one employee out for an action. Or I could be wrong and he wants to give him a raise.
The financial condition in Ridgewood, like most towns/cities across the country has been created over decades. No one person is responsible. However, there are no senior supervisors in Ridgewood, who should be seeking raises and no Village Council members should be endorsing raises. Cash compensation and pensions have been allowed to sky-rocket. Unfortunately, now we have to do something about it. The solution is certainly NOT to offer increases or bonuses, unless they are accompanied by structural reforms that actually REDUCE total net liabilities for years to come. This is no different than the debate going on in Washington over spending.
if this merit pay passes will they get paid in COIN’S.
well how much should he be paid for doing that job.