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Poll: Should the Township be Giving Employees Raises?

Some non-unionized employees in management positions may receive a 2 percent raise after a township Committee vote on Thursday, Aug. 9

A first reading to give certain township employees in management positions was approved at the Committee meeting on Thursday.

Committeewoman Helen DelaCruz was the lone vote in opposition stating this isn’t the time to be giving raises while Committeeman Sean Sharkey said the employees are hardworking and have not had a raise since 2008.

These employees are non-unionized. Based on the township's employee salary figures online, a 2 percent increase would cost the township approximately $9,119.54 alone for just the Chief of Police, Chief Financial Officer, Director of Public Works, Director of Community Development, Township Administrator and Recreation Director.

The second reading of the ordinance will be done on Thursday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. when a public hearing will also be held.

What do you think? Should the township be giving employees raises? Cast your vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comment section of this story.

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Chief Wahoo July 31, 2012 at 10:13 pm
HELL NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
proud July 31, 2012 at 10:21 pm
There are many qualified civilians that could perform the duties of the Cheif of police without choking the taxpayers with an almost 200K compensation package. Many positions within the township could be performed for a much lower cost if it were not for the ridiculous notion of home rule and an antiquated civil service system. The town fathers sold the farm years ago and the public sector unions and non union members are sucking the life out of New Jersey. It basically amounts to self severing greed and not a duty to the public it "serves".
Laceygoingdownhill July 31, 2012 at 10:28 pm
I bet all of us can name a dozen of people they know who work extremely hard at their job and have not received a raise since 2008 (or longer) and probably are making 1/3 of what these people earn. This economy just can't support a raise now.
Michael Hendrickson August 1, 2012 at 01:03 am
Well if the government doesn't give me more money soon I'll have no choice but to pop out another kid..Thats a couple more hundred dollars a month
proud August 1, 2012 at 02:25 am
Mike, don't you think that would hurt? :- (
Larry August 1, 2012 at 03:34 am
I wonder if any of these public service employees realize how much money the private sector has to pay for benefits monthly!! Stop whining about your salaries when you all have top notch benefits, pensions, etc. etc......A private sector teacher has to pay 1200 monthly for family benefits......PUBLIC sector gets a $24,000 benefit package paid for by yes US the taxpayer......stop the insanity..... time to contribute more like the rest of us.....
GB Shore August 1, 2012 at 11:41 am
When it comes to Public Sector employees, unions and governments, they are tone deaf when it comes to compensation, both hard (salary) and soft (benefits). They only know one way....the way it has been. this is why it is so incredulous to those who have been in the private sector. The fact of the matter is that economics is economics. Compensation costs cannot continually go up...it cannot be sustained unless you have an increase in revenues. Business climate is tough, so hard to get additional revenues there. The easy stuff, for the most part, cutting expenses, has been done. That leaves one thing left...raising taxes. This is NOT about working hard and what one thinks one deserves. It is about running a business, which is what running a town is. If these folks think they can get a better deal somewhere else, then go ahead because there are plenty of qualified folks who will do the job for what they get paid, or even less. Look at how much better a job our Rec Director is doing at half the price of the former Director.
RedonRed August 1, 2012 at 11:42 am
Really Condor?
I bet I could find someone out of work, with the same qualifications, do any one of these NON Union jobs for 2/3rds of the cost. AND they would be happy to take whatever pay that was offered BECAUSE they don't have a job. These people shoul be happy they have a job perios. Now we can't blame these empolyees alone for their raises... Its not like they went into their boss and asked for a raise like the regular person would do. Or like my family member has done for the last 6 years and was told NO he can't afford to, but went on 4 family vacations that year alone. Not even a cost of living raise!!! So tell me WHO approves their raises? Because I want them to approve a raise for us, even a extra $100.00 a week would be nice. Hell that would bring us up to just passed the poverty level.
RedonRed August 1, 2012 at 11:51 am
Ya know what Michael Hendrickson... what you get a month on SSI is determined, by what you made while you were in the work field.
WHY should you get more a month if you didn't make much during your work"life". I too receive SSI and understand this and have to accept it. Maybe had I gotten a better job years ago I would be getting more a month. So you see.... maybe, sometimes, YOU have to take responsibility for your OWN actions and not try blaming the other person!!! Bottom line.... you should have gotten a better job, that paid more money so that in your SSI years you would be set ! PS... should be happy that there is still enough money to receive SSI ! Just sayin...
simpletruth August 1, 2012 at 11:59 am
I've noticed alot of houses for sale around town. People just cannot afford the taxes, upkeep and keeping food on the table. People haven't had a raise in a few years and are just getting by. I know we have good, hard workers in town, but it seems like a kick in the back to hard working tax payers right now. When the economy improves, then i say yes to raises, but now is not the time.
GB Shore August 1, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Agree...it also could be that they really were not qualified to buy the homes they were in, i.e., did not really have the income to support the mortgage, were over leveraged and then bought at the height of the market so now they are underwater.
simpletruth August 1, 2012 at 01:57 pm
Gb shore..thats true. The banks were forced to give mortgages to any and everyone that asked for one. When we bought we had to qualify and show proof that we had income to pay. Times have sure changed!
proud August 1, 2012 at 02:24 pm
Right on!
TheGreatHoax August 1, 2012 at 02:44 pm
GREED.
Dan August 1, 2012 at 02:49 pm
well stated and how true.......wake up people wake up!!!
Dan August 1, 2012 at 02:51 pm
We need to get our country BACK..... vote the guy out in NOVEMBER
proud August 1, 2012 at 02:52 pm
That would be a start Dan.
simpletruth August 1, 2012 at 03:35 pm
Pres. "Donates" $5,000 to his own campaign. Do i see a "tax write-off"? He mocks the rich, small busniness owners, but he has $40,000 a plate fundraisers. He's a hypocrit!
proud August 1, 2012 at 04:11 pm
Right on!
WALTER JOHNSEN August 1, 2012 at 08:23 pm
the town was broke so they had to raise taxs.now they are giving it away for raises to people who make 100.000 + something stinks.no one gave me a raise in 10 years.but my town taxs more they double.i don't see anyone leaving for a better job.delacruz is the only one looking out for the people
Larry August 2, 2012 at 03:23 am
Drive around the neighborhoods in lacey and take notice how more and more homes look in need of TLC.....more than ever homes look a bit run down......more for sale signs, for rent signs on many streets now.....cost of living keeps getting more expensive while private sector employees aren't getting raises and many are losing benefits. just take a look at food prices....gas prices......I really feel so sorry for our younger generation....
Robert J Hearn August 3, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Yea for someone willing to speak out. Fire the police chief as he doesn't deserve the salery and benefits he gets at this time. If he isn't happy with his pay tell him to go elsewhere.
JENNY JONES August 3, 2012 at 10:59 pm
well said, and lets not forget the towns municipal judge who is from toms river...and collects pay pension etc from each town he goes to ..
Florence Decker August 10, 2012 at 02:57 pm
Our township committee was elected to represent the people, not a handful of fat-cat employees. On one hand I can name residents of Lacey who are out of work, living hand to mouth. If these over-paid, over-compensated employees are complaining, please leave and find a job elsewhere. We all know you are going nowhere . . . .
GB Shore August 10, 2012 at 03:15 pm
Condor just does not get it....it is not a question of how hard they work and what they "deserve". This is about running a business and we are in a bad spot. Just like everyone else in the private/non-unionized world, the salaries in question are not salaries that they cannot live on...plus some of their spouses work. as well. You think the Chief is having a problem living off his $130k salary along with his wife's $70k+? you totally miss the point...
GB Shore August 10, 2012 at 03:17 pm
In addition, this "if we won't pay them they are going to leave" is another bunch of crap....where are they going?????? Who is hiring them? everyone else is in the same spot....This TC is so weak it is sickening....
GB Shore August 10, 2012 at 03:20 pm
Michael, you tried this crap on another blog string...red on red is right...you get out what you put in....STOP already....if your plan was t live high on the hog off SSI, then sorry, that is your problem for poor planning. Are you kidding me????
GB Shore August 10, 2012 at 03:22 pm
And the effing town attorney who is town attorney for multiple towns, is the Chair of the NJ State Republican Committee and who was the one who advised us on the furlough fiasco....has anyone taken him to task yet on that? What has the TC done about that? sickening......
GB Shore August 10, 2012 at 03:26 pm
...and that comment ladies and gentlemen is on eof the reasons we are on a fiscal cliff...people like Michael Hendrickson who made their choices in life, planned poorly and now expects everyone to help him out in his retirement. The fact that you would even feel proud enough to use your name, if it is your real name shows your mentality. what an embarrassment...
RedonRed August 11, 2012 at 04:30 pm
The problem is Florence Decker is the employees aren't complaining about not getting a raise. They are JUST getting one bc the Committee thinks they should bc they don't come under the "Union" rules ! Of course they aren't going to say oh no I don't need a raise I'm doing just fine with my current salary ! LOL
If I thought it would make a difference being at the township meetings opposing these raises I would but we all know its already in the bag and this is just a formality!
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Your father was truly blessed. I am so happy that you could wish him a Happy Fathers Day.
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proud June 11, 2013 at 10:17 am
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