Embedded within the pages of an executive order that covers the terms and conditions of benefits for Jersey City employees, the mayor gave himself a 14 percent salary increase based on his previous service as a police officer and councilman.
The mayor earns $90,000 per year, and will receive $102,600 under these new conditions.
There's presently a city ordinance that states that city employees who have retired and are then rehired by the city will not be eligible for an increase in longevity. Under that rule, Cunningham, who retired as a city police lieutenant years ago, would not get an increase upon coming back as mayor. However, Cunningham's new executive order creates an exemption for appointed or elected officials who, by state law, have to have their salaries set by a City Council vote.
Although this exception applies to elected officials, department directors, tax assessors, the tax collector, the city clerk, and the chief financial officer, the only two people clearly affected by this now are Cunningham, who served as a police officer for 17 years and a councilman for eight years, and Director of Public Works Ron Buonacore, who also served as a police officer for 25 years before retiring recently. The base salary for department directors is $75,000, giving the newly appointed Ron Buonacore a $9,100 raise.
Stan Eason, the newly hired spokesman for Cunningham, said that a few other employees fell under the exception to the longevity clause as well, but he was unable to name them.
Whoever they are, their increases will not be very high. According to Carlton McGee, the city's business administrator, the clause will increase the city's budget by $25,000 in total. Cunningham and Buonacore make up $21,700 of that increase. So theoretically, other employees make up $3,300.
Councilman William Gaughan, Ward D, brought the executive order to the council's attention at the caucus meeting on Monday. While agreeing that the mayor deserves a raise, Gaughan disapproved of his method of obtaining that raise. Under normal circumstances, adjustments to the mayor's salary must go through City Council in the form of an ordinance, and have a public hearing before the council gives a final vote.
Corporation Counsel Alex Booth repeatedly said that it was not a raise, "but a longevity issue."
Typically, employees receive longevity payments for staying with the same employer for many years.
Council President L. Harvey Smith defended the longevity clause as a method of retaining employees.
"We're a first-class city with a fourth-class salary," Smith said, adding, "mid-range managers haven't received a raise in a long time." He cited the former business administrator, Laurie Cotter, who took a better-paying job in Hoboken.
However, Cunningham's executive order would not have affected her salary.
The former administration raised the mayor's salary from $60,000 to $90,000, but former Mayor Bret Schundler had taken the low $60,000 salary out of his own volition.
"When Schundler came into office, he was a multimillionaire," Eason said last week. "Cunningham took a pay cut to take this job. This mayor is not a millionaire."
Comparing the mayor's salary to other municipal officials, Eason said that deputy police chiefs earn $120,000 and captains make between $105,000 to $117,000.
Green Acres
Also at Wednesday's council meeting, the council passed a resolution that will remove Green Acres space on Essex Street and move it around the block to Hudson Street, adjacent to Veteran's Park.
Green Acres space is state-funded open green space that cannot legally be removed without being replaced. The Planning Board justified the need to relocate this parcel of Green Acres as a means to widen Essex Street for the increasing taxi and limousine traffic expected outside the upcoming Goldman Sachs high rise tower that will be built across the street.
The space on Essex Street was already a replacement for the former Exchange Place Park. Despite the fact that the 4,314 square feet will be replaced with a 4,500 square foot area a block away, Paulus Hook community activists expressed dismay at the Council meeting with the lack of communication Goldman Sachs has had with the community about the landscaping of the new area.
"Two months ago I requested that we had a meeting before it was put on the agenda," said Dorcey Winant, a member of the Historical Paulus Hook Association. And we met with them two days ago."
According to Fred Worstell, the project's architect, this resolution was a first step in the process of relocating the space, and "nothing is set in stone."
Now that the council has approved the transfer of Green Acres space, Goldman Sachs must receive the state's approval.
More appointments
Also, the Council passed a number of judicial appointments and appointments to various agencies. Charter school founder Steve Lipski was named a board member of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.
Councilman William Gaughan had announced his resignation as a member of the board at the caucus meeting on Monday.
Since Paul Hamilton resigned as the Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency on August 2, he has not been replaced. One day after he resigned, Hamilton was told to leave the office rather than staying for a final two weeks. Gaughan complained that this stunted any transitional efforts.
Gaughan attempted to put an acting director in place at the last Redevelopment meeting, but was waylaid by a lack of quorum. The Redevelopment Agency's next meeting is scheduled for August 23.
Other appointments included Frank Checchia to the Jersey City Incinerator Authority and Councilwoman Mary Donnelly to the Planning Board.
Richard Nieto and Cynthia Jackson became full-time judges at the Jersey City's Municipal Court; Pauline E. Sica and Ana C. Moreira were appointed part-time judges.
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