Don’t reward ‘austerity’ mayor with salary, pension boost | Letters

•    Letters to the Editor | The Star-Ledger

Concerning “N.J. town looks to make its mayor full time and give him a $121K raise:”

Many in Wayne Township were blindsided by the move to make part-time Mayor Chris Vergano’s position a full-time one. At the Jan. 4 township council reorganization meeting, six committee members (out of nine) voted to consider introducing an ordinance. Legally, it’s within their purview — but is this how it should be done?

Verango is in the midst of his fourth term as mayor. Since being elected to the part-time job, he cut township staff. Before that, he voted to cut programs as a member of the school board. Now, that austerity-practicing politician wants to reward himself with a full-time position, with a hefty salary increase ($18,750 to $140,000), a state pension bump, and lifetime health benefits.

Several residents at the reorganization meeting said the people of Wayne should vote on this; others questioned whether a change to a full-time mayor should occur during Vergano’s current term, since it was part time when he last ran. One resident suggested keeping the mayor’s post part time, but adding a part-time deputy mayor.

While other New Jersey towns built affordable housing for veterans and the disabled, Vergano and the Republican-led council did nothing, leaving Wayne vulnerable to builders’ remedy lawsuits and facing major over-development. Vergano and those council members who are responsible should all be held accountable for this.

Dianne Douthat, Wayne