Watch replay of the meeting Here 6:00 minute mark
The township committee voted unanimously to approve the pay raises to themselves, family members and the MUA board who just raised water rates by 15%.
Outraged residents sent in emails to the online meeting to be read by the public comments critical and opposing the pay raises. There was no public support. The Mayor showed off his speed reading skills by quickly reading the emails and comments sent in. Normally at the meetings each person is given 5 minutes for public comment, here their voices were disrespected and you could barely hear what they wrote.
Residents asked why do these commissioners who don't work too hard deserve a 10k annual raise, why don't planning and zoning board members get compensated if they work more than the mua board members. Others pointed out to the increase of water rates and that MUA commissioners in surrounding towns make 2-3k a year in compensation.
The mayor did not respond to any of the complaints, only saying that the 5k for MUA members has been set at the same rate for the last 15 years and this ordinance is raising it by 10k a year.
Adding insult to injury, the mayor who is on the MUA board that raised the water rates by 15% said that for those who have a hard time paying their bills there are federal and state programs they can take advantage of.
Others who sent in comments at the pre-emeting email did not have their comments read out and were responded to before the meeting. The ordinance giving free healthcare for township members were also passed as was the raise in salaries across the board for all township employees. Asked if he plans to retire since he is closing in on 20 years, the mayor said he will continue to serve as long as the residents want him. Others asked why the mayor and deputy mayor Miller are getting a higher salary than the other committeemen who work just as hard since the committee is made of all5. The mayor did not respond
And everyone will forget if they didnt yet, and the powers that be will get the money
ReplyDeleteThis makes me nauseous
ReplyDeleteUnzere politicians are laughing all the way to the bank and laughing even harder at the lakewood community for voting them in power again and again as they help themselves from the coffers.
ReplyDeleteAnd the vaad protects them as they each look out for each other making money on the oilams dime.
Will the members of the committee send me a hakoras hatov letter together with my tax bill?
DeleteBe individuals and stop voting like chickens who vote for the wolf to protect them.
DeletePlus, who after 20 years of public service gets lifetime health benefits.
You want change, then vote for change. Not for the same people.
Tax will rise again to pay for all of this.
ReplyDeleteThese kinds of shenanigans with double dipping then triple dipping into the taxpayer cookie jar make me want to throw up..
ReplyDeleteHow do the frum politicians have no busha to do this?
ReplyDeleteAre these the town leaders we trust to protect the community? Talk about the fox guarding the hen house
Comment
ReplyDeleteLakewood township’s Land Use board members conduct double the number of meetings, with each lasting a few hours. They also have to spend real time preparing and studying the often-complicated applications beforehand. Their decisions impact this entire town for generations. But yet, they aren't getting compensated by the residents or even receiving free insurance benefits. They must volunteer for public service.
Why should the MUA members get all of these benefits for practically no work when other hard-working members on other boards/commissions get nothing, besides for the satisfying privilege of serving the people of Lakewood? Whatever money comes into the authority belongs to the people, and should be used for strictly legitimate expenses. Lakewood’s MUA customers cannot afford higher utility rates.
This latest committee ordinance only adds insult to injury by tripling the compensation of highly connected individuals, the majority of which will suffer no impact as a result of their own decisions.
STOP the madness already!!
I think the township committee members owe all of us a tremendous hakaras hatov, and the Rosh Yeshiva Zatzal said that hakaras hatov is a pillar of Yiddishkeit. Someone who doesn't have hakaras hatov cannot be considered completely frum.
ReplyDeleteSo from now, that the township committee members have received this wonderful favor from all of us, they need to start doing us favors, such as running the town in a way that the people living here have a better life.
I listened to that meeting. It was a joke
ReplyDeleteThe meeting lasted an entire 17 minutes. Coles is also a very quick letter reader.
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