The Hoboken City Council okayed new salary ranges for electeds and municipal directors, along with a handful of employees, at last night’s meeting, as well as the first reading of amending their pay-to-play rules.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Before we start, I just want to apologize to the members of the public outside who were trying to attend the council meeting in person. I know that at the last council meeting I said I will be here and I was hoping to be joined by members of the public as well,” began Council President Ruben Ramos.
“Unfortunately, I’m not responsible, the council members are not responsible, for letting people into the building or how the buildings operated and run. Unfortunately, members of the public aren’t being allowed to join us tonight.”
While Ramos had called for last night’s meeting to resume in person last month, evidently there was not a consensus across the board. Only 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo and 6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino joined him at City Hall.
During public portion, a few members of the public spoke out against new salary ranges, which would allow directors to earn $170,000 – up from $137,500 – with the business administrator’s range going from $170,000 to $199,000.
Council members salaries would also go up by at least $10,000, with larger hikes for the council president and vice president, while the mayor’s salary would jump from $116,950 to $130,00 after the 2025 election.
The measure was approved 5-2(1) on first reading.
“I’m disappointed to see that this seems like it’s gonna go through. I am upset about this really because this wasn’t brought up during the election. Not a word, not a peep. I can see why because it would’ve been a political hot potato,” said Sheila Brennan, who unsuccessfully ran for a council-at-large seat on the “Independently Together” ticket last month.
“Shame on the sponsors of this and shame on any of you that vote for it,” later calling it “ridiculous” to exclude unions from the city’s strict pay-to-play laws.
The ordinance before the council would allow unions to contribute the state maximum of $7,200 to candidates, instead of the $500 currently on the books in the Mile Square City.
Rachel Feldman, a 5th Ward resident, spoke out against increasing the salary ranges as well, scoffing at the notion that this as about retaining qualified city staffers.
“If director retention is your goal, why I ask, mingle city council raises with that? … An over 45 percent increase in city council salaries is unwarranted.”
She also said that the answer to flouting campaign finance rules should be enforcing them, not loosening them.
Prior to the the vote on salary ranges, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher suggested calling for a vote on the three categories separately: electeds, directors, and municipal employees.
To accomplish this, the measure would have to be separated into three ordinances that are introduced on first reading.
“Quite frankly, I think this may be the opportunity to have the right discussion as well as the right types of support for each one of the categories that are dissimilar,” she said, making a motion to reintroduce to that was seconded by Giattino.
The motion failed 7-2, with only Fisher and Giattino voting yes.
The subsequent vote on the ordinance was then approved 5-3(1), with 1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco, Fisher, Giattino voting no and Ramos abstaining.
With the approval, the assistant comptroller, comptroller, chief financial officer (CFO), payroll supervisor, and tax collector will see their salary ranges increase from $8,000 to $10,000.
As for the first reading to amend the pay-to-play ordinance, that vote was 5-2(2), with Fisher and Giattino voting no, while Ramos and DeFusco abstained.
The measure was sponsored by 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen and Councilwoman-at-Large Emily Jabbour.
The governing body also voted in favor of bringing back the office of constituent affairs, a campaign promise by Mayor Ravi Bhalla’s slate, as well as to implement a new division of housing that will be run by outgoing Councilwoman-at-Large Vanessa Falco who opted not to seek re-election last month.
Time to cash in! Thanks to my deals with Ravi and Team Vato, I’m back in bidness!
Suck on that you Zimmer fools. She handed over Hoboken to Ravi and now me. It’s payback and pay me!
Show me the money! Thanks everyone and all you Reform fools for your support but I couldn’t wait. I waited long enough and played the fake reformer game. Me and Mikie have to start cashing in, right away. Too bad suckers, my Terror Fliers have privileges!
Ramos and Russo are grandfathered in to a defined benefit pension plan. This raise will not only raise their current salaries, it will give a huge boost to their pensions so this benefits them way way more than other Council members.
It would have increased Zimmer’s too if she was still here.
No it wouldn’t have – she took office after the law was changed but more importantly who cares? She left office 4 years ago. This is a massive pension handout to Ramos and Russo.
NOoooooo She was Mayor, Mayors get pensions.
Do you really think making the word no longer makes incorrect and irrelevant statements less irrelevant or less wrong? Local elected officials like Mayor Zimmer who took office after 2006 get the State’s version. Of a 401(k), which is a defined contribution plan not nearly as good as private sector 401(k)s.
Russo and Ramos are grandfathered into the old defined benefit plan like the one cops and firemen have. A 10k raise would increase their pensions by about 6k per year for life.
Seems like a scam to me and something that ought to have been disclosed to the public.
Why are you trying to cover this up with lies?
Was the ordinance for Ranked Choice Voting approved?
Hey Dave, it’s a non-binding resolution since it’s ultimately up to the state legislature but yes it was approved.
What happened to all the Ravi operatives like Nancy Toxic Avenger, John Shipyard Cat, Bleepjay, Mark of Jersey City? Looks like they suddenly discovered a heaping cup of STFU and are choking on it. Enjoy the taste!
they are called supporters, just like you support the opposition. what’s wrong with supporting a candidate or elected official? you do it, why can’t other people do it too?
also, after thoroughly cleaning the clock of your opponent in an election, there isn’t much need to waste time listening to your nonsense.