In a story that is still being written at the Record (see here), the Teaneck firefighters have approved an agreement by a 2-1 margin that will included increases of up to 2.9%, with many lower due to contractual terms. Five other full-time and two-part time employees, two of them police officers, will be laid off, and there are several demotions or switches to part time duty.
These personnel changes were required to meet the $62.2 million budget for 2009 approved on Tuesday night, which will see the municipal portion of 2009 taxes rising by 5.2%.
Alan Sohn
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
43 comments:
I hope everyone reads Alan's link. The papers and council keep making it sound like everyone is getting a 2.9% raise and that is just not TRUE. "The agreement signed by the firefighters union caps increase in total compensation for the union at 2.9 percent for each of the next three years. Smith said the majority of firefighters will receive less than that because of step increases that go to inexperienced firefighters and longevity bonuses that are awarded every four years to each member.
Smith, for example, will receive a 1.3 percent increase this year, he said." The vast majority will receive under a 1.5% raise for each of the 3 years
But I still can't figure out how the math works. The budget approved Tuesday night shows total pay for firefighters up a fraction of a percent to $9,786,700, while police total salaries will decline by a fraction of a percent to $11,485,585.
All of the employees on the payroll at the start of the year were still here collecting salaries through June. If increases at the fire department are limited to 2.9%, and some are getting smaller raises, how do we get down to zero? For 2009, any savings from the departed deputy chiefs will be equaled by increases in terminal leave, but that line item still shows up unchanged from last year at $110,000.
Can anyone explain the math?
Alan Sohn
Great questions. Why doesn't Mrs. Toffler come on and explain the math, that should be fun?
Does this mean that they threw their buddies under the bus for an average 1.5% salary increase?
Esther
What buddies under the bus?
Why doesn't Mrs Toffler explain why she got out of her seat at the last council meeting, ran up the aisle to the HS lobby, and yelled and screamed at a firefighter's wife.
Esther
They took an average of 1.5% to try to avoid layoffs, which for now worked. I don't understand your question? In my opinion you usually make a lot of sense. I am not trying to be sarcastic I just don't understand who got thrown under the bus?
BOO HOO BOO HOO BOO HOO- cry me a river!!
I'm sorry. I thought I read somewhere that 5 people were laid off. My apologies.
Esther-
5 people retired
5 people retired
If they all were demoted, their pensions would have taken a hit, so they did a pre-emptive retirement to lock them in. At the same time at least one (one this blog) claimed that he was "forced" to retire. It was a money grab.
Let us remember that taxes are going up for taxpayers, who by and large have taken decreases over the past year.
If they have not moved to the unemployed line altogether.
You people should take some pointers from Esther, she can at least admit she read something wrong. Thanks, I figured someone gave you bad info.
Esther:
5 employees were laid off, but it did not include any firefighters. The article cited in the post, Teaneck layoffs include two cops makes this clear. Newspaper articles may contain errors but they are far more reliable than the anonymous posters.
There is not nearly enough information provided to determine an average percentage increase for the firefighters, but like so many statistics, it would be a pretty much meaningless in this scenario. It does appear that those who were in danger of being laid off, the inexperienced firefighters at the bottom of the pay scale, will get the highest percentage raises as a group. They should be significantly higher than 2.9%.
so much for the "close vote" the union leaders were predicting while organizing their rally and shipping in outsiders for it. What was that all about anyway?
They managed to earn lots of bad will from a populace that was already skeptical about them for no good reason.
Who do you call for HELP
TPD TPD
MAYBE SOME OF THE 30 + GUYS WILL
RETIRE AND SAVE THE 2 PATROL SPOTS??
WOULD THAT DO IT?????
Re anonymous comments about Dr. Toffler: Dr. Toffler left the auditorium to go to the rest room. When she entered the hallway outside the auditorium doors, a firefighter's wife began screaming at her about the Shouldis award and several other issues. She momentarily lost her cool and tried to "defend" herself against a variety of "accusations" about her facial expressions. She subsequently returned to the auditorium -- shaken by the vitriol expressed by the young woman -- and still wondering why the firefighters and officers wanted such a painful and unnecessary fight when the originally suggested few days of furlough would have prevented any layoffs AND any decrease in annual salary increments.
Lets go to the video tape.
I for one am happy that everything was resolved without any layoffs. The township got what they wanted and the fire dept didn't have to lose any guys. I'm just a little angry that the township kept 2.6 million a secret. I wonder what else they aren't letting the town informed about. I would like to see Adam Gussen, Muhamed and Elie Katz voted out. Gussen is a snake in the grass, Muhamed doesn't seem interested in anything most of the time. He looks as if he's day dreaming and Elie Katz has been an embaressment. I was a big supporter of Katz for many years, However when I've watched him during the council meetings this year he looks a mess and uninterested in anything. As long as his taxes aren't raised on his many properties here in town. How is this not a conflict of interest? Elie Katz owns alot of the commercial realestate in town and gets to vote on wether or not to raise taxes....Im sure the readers here would agree how he's gonna vote. We need new faces, new blood on our council.
Anon 9:27..
How about Feit? And the 3 girls?
Think they are any better?
Ha cahuck you rite very well.
I heard the suburbanite did a interview with Honis and her thought process pertaining to the budget. oh here is a copy of the interview.
"-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"
well done
It is definately time for a new mayor! I'm tired of hearing all the vile rumors without any action in response. At first I thought it was alot on unfounded lies and expected a libel case or at the very least a statement about the comments. I will not repeat what I heard since I am not convinced of it's validity, but would like the mayor to respond before he's up for re-election.
anon 4,
how can you say it is time for a new mayor and then say that you dont even believe whatever it is you have heard. Kevie Feit is one of the best Mayors in Teanecks history
Anonymous:
I said that I didn't believe the rumors when I first heard them. But that was almost a year ago, the stories haven't stopped and the mayor hasn't denied it.
Even if the rumors are untrue, I would prefer a different mayor. When most of us feel blessed to still have a job(& have taken pay cuts to keep them), he gave increases to municipal employees. Many of whom live in towns with vol.FD and lower taxes. The voters rejected the school budget and would have done same to town's budget if we could've voted on it. I just can't afford it.
the mayor didnt give anything to anyone. the mayor is one of 7 people and can do nothing on his own.
As for whatever rumors you claim to have heard until you are willing to put them in writing and identify yourself just keep your mouth shut.
For the uninitiated: the mayor is appointed by Council. A thankless job he/she gets no more power only more agita!
Feit? Nope..
best were Matty F., Eleanor K. and Paul O.
Parkieman is right...mayors get aggravation, grief, all the agita and never the credit they deserve..most have been good to my recolection...Hall, Bower, Kielizek, Ostrow, Kates and Katz.
Abraham..well..OK. Feit is quiet..but runs the meetings OK.
Recently heard that the fire department has more personnel than the police department. Does anyone know if that's true? If so,how do we justify that?
In my opinion, running the council meetings is one of Feit's weaknesses.
NOBODY RAN MEETINGS AS WELL AS PAUL.
Ditto.
An 10:40..
yes; now with a couple of PD layoffs, the FD may be larger now. the PD work constantly. many road calls and responses. no cooking, sleeping, tv, ping pong or excercise for them while on duty.
whats fair is fair..put a nice kitchen at police building.
ask NO-it all Hoenis maybe she has a solution or idea.
Now thats a Joke...
u r rite paul
The most hard working and progressive Mayor in the last 35 years was Elie Katz.
Weinberg would have been a good mayor if she stayed in Teaneck,instead she moved up and forgot about us. But hopefully she will move up again and remember her hometown. Keep the Faith.
Progressive?
I agree.
How many years has Katz been on the Council? 13 years? How much have our taxes gone up in that time? C'mon, Tom. Check "the records".
Katz? Ha!
Alan is your middle initial
s if so you could just use your3 letters . We would all know its you
RE;6/26 8;39
Was that a senior moment or two Did she release any closed session info in that so called moment.
She should have been a lawyer..saying things damage done and then takeing it back...
Post a Comment