Pay Increase for Butler Mayor, Council Members
Officials voted unanimously in favor of first pay increase for governing body since 1991.
Butler Mayor Robert Alviene and the borough council members will receive a pay increase in 2013 for the first time since 1991.
The council unanimously approved the increase (with the exception of Councilman Sean McNear who was absent) during the Dec. 4 meeting.
According to Borough Administrator James Lampmann, each council member is currently paid $2,000 and will have their pay increased to $3,000. Alviene's pay is currently $2,500 and will be increased to $4,000, Lampmann said.
When asked why the increase was approved now after so many years, Lampmann said "that's a decision that the council makes."
Alviene said there was no particular reason that the council members felt the upcoming year was an appropriate time for a pay increase other than that a long time had passed since the last raise. In the past, Lampmann and Alviene said the council members simply chose not to include themselves in the resolution for salary increases for non-union employees discussed annually.
Alviene said the discussion on raising the salaries of the mayor and council members has come up several times with no action during his time as a council member. But on Dec. 4, Alviene said the council members were in agreement about the increase.
"The council just all thought that it was time, after 1991, that we should be considered a little bit," he said Wednesday.
Sherry
2:51 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
REALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At the Trough again
7:04 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
This makes a lot of sense, Bad economy, 2 percent caps, rising costs of health insurance. This is what happens when we do not have term limits and we have recklessness in leadership. I hope they choke on the raises.
Kevin
11:32 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
It is a tough job, Just to pay for their expenses. The pay they receive is negligible considering the responsibility they have!!
Zoo Keeper
7:06 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
I agree......it just never stops..........
Matt
10:25 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
I feel it is well deserved. It isn't an easy job, just look at the abuse they get. Its been 21 years since it has been raised.
Sherry
10:09 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
I AGREE WITH AT the Trough again BAD ECONOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Zoo Keeper
7:04 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Isn't it nice to vote yourself a raise in a struggling economy.
Taxes have gone up.......The council has spend $500,000 at one council meeting not batting an eyelash.
SPEND.....SPEND.....SPEND
Two police SUV's @ $25,000 each
They are only concerned about themselves.
What about Main Street? More and more empty storefronts Ghost Town USA
I think that the fire department should be compensated for their services, being on call 24/7 At least they are doing something POSITIVE for the community.
SHAME ON YOU..............
Richard Dean
7:13 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
While there are empty stores on Main Street, I would not call it a ghost town. Butler Center (the old American Hard Rubber mill) has a lot of business occcupancies retnted. Route 23's two miles that are in Butler have many businesses including restaurants (chain and independly owned), banks, realtors, gas stations, convenience stores, Lowe's, Stop & Shop, NY Sports Club, etc. Sadly a lot of people think of the Route 23 business district as being in Kinnelon and while a couple dozen businesses are the vast majority are in Butler with all highway frontage from Applebee's north to within 500 feet of the High Crest Bridge being in Butler.
Richard Dean
7:17 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
As for the police SUV's, with all of our hills in a northern climate they are needed for the police to maneuver during the winter storms rather than having to borrow the Butler FD chief's Dodge Durango's or the fire police officers mid 1990's Ford Explorer. Some people do not realize that in this part of NJ the police officers are the first responders not just for crime but also for emergency medical being trained in cpr and equipped with first aid kits, oxygen and defibrillators so they need to get through. The police vehicles are well maintained so they last a long time and when they are no longer suitable for police responses they are usually turned over to another borough department whether it be fire, electric, water, roads, or even schools.