By ARLENE SULLIVAN
A few thoughts about the January 18 Wayne town council meeting which turned out very well for Wayne taxpayers. Mayor Vergano’s request to become full time, with a pay raise of $120,000 and full medical coverage was met with an overwhelmingly negative public response which perhaps caused Mr. Vergano to withdraw his request and keep his present part-time gig at $18,000 and change. Mr. Vergano was not present. The reason given was a medical situation.
Since his original request was voted on and passed at the last council meeting, it couldn’t just be discarded. There had to be a discussion and a decision made whether to vote in favor of Mr. Vergano’s new request to rescind. After much discussion and patting each other on the back for all the work council members undertook in making the move to a full-time mayor, albeit under the cover of darkness as the public was unaware of the hasty request, the council eventually honored Mr. Vergano’s request to have the matter pulled. The vote was unanimous, and the matter will not be considered again unless re-requested through the proper channels. Chalk one up for the taxpayers. However, an interesting question was asked by Councilwoman Fran Ritter, who attended the special investigative committee meetings: Why was the council placing the question on the ballot for the public to decide never addressed? Instead, there was talk of placing the onus on the public to gather thousands of signatures within a short time period, in order for the question to be placed on the ballot – a nearly impossible endeavor.
Six council people will be up for reelection on November 7. We must truly consider who has our best interests in mind when we cast our vote.