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Post by novillero on Jul 15, 2008 20:52:11 GMT -5
Council members' taxes covered by raise they voted for Not everyone gets to vote themselves a raise. A 3-percent raise seems like a modest cost of living increase totaling a mere (approximately) $200 per year, or $16.67 per month for our hard-working Borough Council members. I wonder which council member truly hungers for additional $16.67 per month. Not 10 minutes after the Borough Council voted themselves a raise, council member(s) said they will seek municipal employee benefit givebacks such as capping the health insurance premium benefit, thus establishing more employee outof pocket health insurance contributions. This is a standard practice in the private sector and a practice I support where it makes fiscal sense. However, is voting yourself a raise a good example of leadership if you're planning to ask your employees for givebacks? $16.67 per month is a petty amount not worth quibbling over, but it should elevate our municipal financial consciousness. Freehold Borough council members receive approximately $8,300 per year, plus full health insurance as additional compensation for their tireless community service. By comparison, council members in Colts Neck receive $1,600 a year, Englishtown council members earn roughly $2,500 per year, Howell council members receive approximately $5,500 (some even donate 100 percent of their municipal earnings, including the mayor), Marlboro council members, $3,900, and Manalapan council members earn approximately $7,100. Very few municipalities offer fully paid health insurance for their council members, and none allow a cashout option (cash in lieu of the insurance) if you do not need to take the coverage. Why is the reasonable expectation of leaner budgets waiting for the next fiscal year in Freehold Borough? Executive leadership voting for a raise is contrary to leading by example during troubled economic times, times when we all need to fight for lower property taxation. The Freehold Borough municipal budget has grown nearly 40 percent since 2000, from just over $8 million to nearly $14 million in Fiscal Year 2008-09. Not one council member voted to abstain, not one of our highest paid council members in western Monmouth County offered up a symbolic pay cut of 5 percent, or 10 percent; yet, again, they will seek municipal employee benefit givebacks while the local economy is suffering through a 30- year slump. It is time we see serious municipal costdowns, cutbacks and new creative revenue streams. We need a municipal finance committee to meet quarterly with public review sessions. Let's have the same open accountability like private sector corporations, after all, borough residents are the shareholders. Only six borough residents are lucky enough to vote for a raise to offset their increased property tax levy. They may think they earned it, but don't we all? Simply, if we can manage to lower the tax levy by 3 percent, we all can enjoy money back in our pockets at a time we need it most. Ted Miller Candidate for Borough Council Freehold Borough newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2008/0716/letters/025.html
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 15, 2008 23:08:29 GMT -5
I don't know about all that he's saying...it seems almost like he's grasping for straws.......overanalyzing, if you will..
You know the old adage, sometimes a ham & cheese sandwich is just a ham & cheese sandwich.
And speaking of sandwiches, I have to say that I am so hungry right now I could really tear one apart. But alas, with all of those calories and these gazillion donut places all around, I don't want to turn into a fat hog. Ha!
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bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Jul 16, 2008 6:10:46 GMT -5
I don't know about all that he's saying...it seems almost like he's grasping for straws.......overanalyzing, if you will.. You know the old adage, sometimes a ham & cheese sandwich is just a ham & cheese sandwich. And speaking of sandwiches, I have to say that I am so hungry right now I could really tear one apart. But alas, with all of those calories and these gazillion donut places all around, I don't want to turn into a fat hog. Ha! Yeah, it bad enough your losing your hair. I agree stay away from them donuts. |
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 16, 2008 9:25:30 GMT -5
Losing my hair? Ha! I have TOO much of it.
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Post by richardkelsey on Jul 16, 2008 9:45:27 GMT -5
Mr. Miller has done some nice research -- the type that does truly call the level of pay and the need for a raise into question. Certainly, the comparison to communities such as Colts Neck and Howell leave one wondering.
I don't know anything about the Council's intention to seek give backs from employees, but if true -- the raise does seem a bit of weird move in the current climate.
Wow -- the municipal budget is up 40% since 2000?
This was a pretty strong letter in my view -- and certainly makes the readers ask some questions about the value equation.
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Post by lisas84 on Jul 16, 2008 9:48:13 GMT -5
Actually, the only thing it makes me wonder is why someone who is so desirous of being a councilperson and who is not independently wealthy would have a problem with the concept of a slight pay raise and benefits. Unless, of course, he'd like to be like Governor Corzine and decline to accept pay for the position.
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Post by lisas84 on Jul 16, 2008 9:58:01 GMT -5
I need to add that I mean no disrespect to Mr. Miller at all; I truly am befuddled.
The one thing I liked and wished he would have expounded on was the developing of creative revenue streams. I think that's always a great idea for any entity.
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Jul 16, 2008 14:35:30 GMT -5
Actually, the only thing it makes me wonder is why someone who is so desirous of being a councilperson and who is not independently wealthy would have a problem with the concept of a slight pay raise and benefits. Unless, of course, he'd like to be like Governor Corzine and decline to accept pay for the position. Perhaps, lisas84, Mr Miller has decided that he would like to be a Town Council member simply for the pride he can take in doing something to help turn this town around? Perhaps he does not run for office with even a notion of the fact that it is a paid position? There are at least 9 folks in town that I know of who dedicate a great deal of their free time to the betterment of our schools, and do not get compensated one penny for their efforts...and yet they continue to run and get elected to their positions. Sometimes it's just about taking civic pride...which we constantly hear about from our Town Council and Mayor...but times like these there are those of us who question their reasoning. |
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 16, 2008 14:50:11 GMT -5
If Mr. Miller had an ounce of civic pride, he wouldn't hang around one particular windbag who consistently and frequently badmouths the town using vitriolic and hateful language. He would know that someone like that wasn't worthy of his precious time. For everyone who does spend their time helping the town, behavior like that certainly doesn't "turn this town around" in a positive way.
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Jul 16, 2008 15:00:20 GMT -5
If Mr. Miller had an ounce of civic pride, he wouldn't hang around one particular windbag who consistently and frequently badmouths the town using vitriolic and hateful language. He would know that someone like that wasn't worthy of his precious time. For everyone who does spend their time helping the town, behavior like that certainly doesn't "turn this town around" in a positive way. Any chance you might stand up and put a name to this person you're calling a "windbag"? And don't mistake someone who might speak poorly of the Town Council and Mayor as someone who is speaking poorly about this town. That would be the same as saying someone who speaks poorly of President Bush is speaking poorly of the United States in general. |
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 16, 2008 15:11:04 GMT -5
I'm not going to put their name up here. That wouldn't be too classy. They know who they are and so does Mr. Miller. This isn't any one of you, by the way. There's certainly a difference between targeted criticism and throwing a bunch of darts at the wall and hoping some will stick in the bullseye. There is a difference with this person though, because he/she doesn't solely badmouth the governing body, he/she badmouths the residents and the town itself. And trust me, I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses, either.  |
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Post by richardkelsey on Jul 16, 2008 15:48:31 GMT -5
I'm not going to put their name up here. That wouldn't be too classy. They know who they are and so does Mr. Miller. This isn't any one of you, by the way. There's certainly a difference between targeted criticism and throwing a bunch of darts at the wall and hoping some will stick in the bullseye. There is a difference with this person though, because he/she doesn't solely badmouth the governing body, he/she badmouths the residents and the town itself. And trust me, I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses, either. I don't think we can really question Mr. Miller's Civic pride, any more than we can question any Council member or the Mayor's civic pride. We don't -- at least yet -- condemn people for hanging out with fat windbags who politically criticize the town and its leaders. As a fat windbag myself, I am happy that is the case. Suffice it to say -- I don't think anyone's civic pride is at question among those working on the Borough Council, or trying to serve on the Council. Let's hope that dissent and criticism does not call into question one's civic pride. Imagine that slippery slope. |
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 16, 2008 15:55:32 GMT -5
Fat windbag? Where did "fat" come from? I only called the person a "windbag," not a fat one at that.
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Jul 17, 2008 17:23:05 GMT -5
Maybe Geo & Mike D should coach football at the High School. Better deal than working 20 hours a week and have to take abuse from the GOP. www.frhsd.com/moodle18/file.php/8/08_06_16.pdfThe salaries of boys HS football coaches is roughly $35,000 at each high school in the Freehold Regional High School District. This does not include trainers and equipment managers. This is based on the FRHSD June 16, 2008 meeting. FOOTBALL – BOYS Assistant Coach 5,662.00 Assistant Coach 5,662.00 Assistant Coach 5,450.00 Head Coach 7,275.00 Assistant Coach 5,450.00 Assistant Coach 5,662.00 Wonder why these guys don't do it for school pride? Maybe because it is a job. Ya think? Great information Lisa!!! can you complete your investigation..., are these coaches required to be "degreed" Physical education professional and is their compensation dictated by a teachers union? Your point is...wonderful ... it appears to only benefit the kids in the football program what about the rest of the student body (but the same can be said for Music and art programs too I suppose)? School budgets are approved by a public referendum (for now), and all eligible voters have the opportunity to approve via their vote each April. The results were...MONMOUTH 1650 FREEHOLD REGIONAL yea-8006 vs. nay-6847. So it is the voters that approved the compensation, not the coaches them selves, right? So you do make another salient point.., can municipal budgets, or some portion(s) of..., be approved by public referendum too? The public is qualified to understand a School budgets, why not municipal budgets, so.... (not where I was going originally but...,) You bring up an interesting scenario..., what will the general voting public say about the concept of Municipal budgets, or some portion(s) of, ..... as a public referendum to vote yea or nay??? Thanks Great info |
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Post by lisas84 on Jul 17, 2008 18:39:41 GMT -5
Hmmm, Fiber, I can understand the basis of your theory here, but I'm wondering if it is comparing apples to oranges, so to speak. I'm wondering if opening up a full, likely cumbersome municipal budget for resident voting may cause chaos, especially if voters don't quite understand just what they're voting on to potential detriment of specific programs. What value would this serve to a voter population? Does this occur -- successfully -- in other municipalities in the country? Is what you're proposing a first for municipal management?
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Post by fiberisgoodforyou on Jul 17, 2008 20:46:00 GMT -5
Hmmm, Fiber, I can understand the basis of your theory here, but I'm wondering if it is comparing apples to oranges, so to speak. I'm wondering if opening up a full, likely cumbersome municipal budget for resident voting may cause chaos, especially if voters don't quite understand just what they're voting on to potential detriment of specific programs. What value would this serve to a voter population? Does this occur -- successfully -- in other municipalities in the country? Is what you're proposing a first for municipal management? Great questions again, let me know what you find out. BTW...a GOOD football program creates revenue through ticket sales and sales of school team paraphernalia, like you say...I can understand the basis of your theory here, but I'm wondering if it is comparing apples to oranges. Cheerio PS....There is a new Harold's NY Deli on Rt. 18, E. Brunswick, the cricketes there are to die for! Bon Appétit PSS If your stuck in the 213/310 try Nat and Als 414 n Beverly Dr www.natenal.com/or Greenblatt's Delicatessen 8017 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood 90046 I forget if it was Greenblatts or N&A where I had the cricketes, but these cricketes are about as good as your gonna get, short of sitting in plane for 6 hours to get the real thing! Just tell them the Millers from " 90210~The Canyon" sent you! BTW also you HAVE TO eat a Burger at Mel's Drive In on Sunset, and you gotta eat at the original Dukes in Malibu. I gotta go HANG 10! |
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Post by misterpr1981 on Jul 18, 2008 2:08:45 GMT -5
I'm not sure why you were telling Lisa about LA places, since it's me who lives here, but I do have to say..
Been to Mel's Drive-in. Amazing burgers! Dukes--haven't been. I don't go over to Malibu too often, but when I do, I will try it. Haven't tried those delis but I did try Canters in the Fairfax District, I think on La Cienega. Great food. Been there? Also, Jerry's in Studio City is pretty good, but overpriced.
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Jul 18, 2008 6:27:49 GMT -5
Hmmm, Fiber, I can understand the basis of your theory here, but I'm wondering if it is comparing apples to oranges, so to speak. I'm wondering if opening up a full, likely cumbersome municipal budget for resident voting may cause chaos, especially if voters don't quite understand just what they're voting on to potential detriment of specific programs. What value would this serve to a voter population? Does this occur -- successfully -- in other municipalities in the country? Is what you're proposing a first for municipal management? lisa...there is one thing that is certain to come out of such a concept...the municipal government will be forced to better explain to the voting population reasoning as to why areas of the budget are receiving the funding they are. to compare again to the school budget, by making it available to the public, and needing their approval, there is a great deal of responsibility placed on the schools and the school board to justify the money they are spending. Yes...there is a movement now to eliminate school budget votes...and to be honest, I do not agree with that idea. And yes, there has always been a method in place for school boards to seek a reversal if the budget is defeated...but that has never stopped the school from having to justify their spending to the general public. compare it to the LLA's recent press conference where they are asking for more civilian oversight to internal police investigations...the concept is the same. Government, in any form, perhaps should not be allowed to simply function as they see fit. Perhaps there should be a more involved process that allows those who are being governed and who are being taxed to support this government, a larger say in where money and resources get spent, and how procedures are set up and followed. Of course, if we just suddenly opened up the entire budget or the entire police force to public scrutiny and approval, it would be chaos...but that does not mean we can not start small and slowly build up the process over time. |
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adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
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Post by adefonzo on Jul 18, 2008 8:29:22 GMT -5
The only way I can "enlighten" anything is by the physical act of flipping the light switch or turning on a lamp...anything that I might say or write is never enlightening...it's more often rambling nonsense that I can't help but spew from my big mouth. I belch, I bite my nails, I don't always comb my hear, I stink when I sweat, I even pass gas on occassion...how enlightening could I possibly be?  ? |
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Post by stffgpr2003 on Jul 18, 2008 8:31:12 GMT -5
To heck with you all. When Steven returns from LA...we're going to HAROLDS!!!!!
Marc/DAD
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