Vernon divided over mayor's raise proposal

VERNON — A week after the proposal was floated before the Vernon Township Council, both residents and council members remained divided on Jan. 13 over the $40,000 raise to the mayor proposed by Mayor Victor Marotta in the 2014 township budget.

The Township Council introduced an ordinance that would, if enacted, would raise the mayor's salary to $70,000 per year from $30,000.

Marotta has made $30,000 per year since being elected in 2011 as the first mayor under the township's Mayor-Council government. He previously asked for a raise to $50,000 per year in 2012, which was approved by the council in salary ordinance, but overturned by voters the following November.

"He agreed to a part-time salary, which is obviously going to be a lower cost to the people in this town," former mayoral candidate Jamie Rickey said.

Rickey also said while he does not think $70,000 is "outrageous," he thinks it is very fair. He summarized the debate by concluding that one can “never please everyone, and everyone comes under fire in this position.”

Resident Mary Ellen Vichiconti touched on a sentiment that is widely held by other citizens as she urged the council to change the mayor's salary during the next election cycle. She said seeking a salary increase mid-term does not bode well for Marotta.

“You take a look at the demographics of the people who live in this town," she said. "They say that $70,000 after two years, and in this town, is insanity. It looks horrible to the average person, working two or three jobs per household in this economy.”

Howard Whidden, former president of the Vernon Township Board of Education said Marotta said his mayorship would be a part-time job when he was elected.

"I can appreciate that, but at the same time I understand things change," he said. "I’m not too crazy about this raise, but he does deserve it.”

Council members were more divisive on the matter, clearly opposing any suggestion of putting the raise off until the next mayoral election, which would be in November 2015, remaining steadfast in their opinions.

Council members Dick Wetzel and Patrick Rizzuto, along with newly-appointed council president Brian Lynch, voted in favor of the pay raise, while council members Dan Kadish and Jean Murphy were opposed.

Wetzel read a list of local executives making six figures and exclaimed he was “tired of hearing the dead horse being beaten about a salary that was voted down two years ago.”

Murphy provided a rebuttal, with her own list of mayors earning modest salaries. Kadish echoed her sentiments, concluding that “you don’t run for public office for the big bucks. You run for the betterment of the town and to serve the residents who live here.”

There is expected to be a public hearing and a vote on the approval of the ordinance on Jan. 27.