West New York Mayor Sal Vega said last week that due to strapped finances in town, his administration has asked a state monitor to advise town officials on several issues, including possible layoffs.
“We are going to look at trimming the workforce, and we are looking at every possible agency in the town,” said Vega. He added that every town employee will receive a notice, whether ultimately laid off or not. Vega said that this could be about 100 people, depending on how well talks go with union representatives.
“We are going to continue to speak to them over the course of the next month with the intent that the more assistance we get from them, the lower the layoff number will be, because our goal is not to lay off people; our goal is to save the town money,” he said.
He said if there are layoffs, they could be conducted by June.
Hundreds of people crowded the town’s monthly commissioners meeting on Wednesday to protest a recent 27 percent tax hike.
Vega said that a state monitor will also examine the methods of the Purchasing Department, which buys rock salt and other items the town needs.
“We have asked for a monitor to advise us on certain issues because we are committed to making the town better,” said Vega. He added that another advantage to having a state monitor is that it increases the town’s chances of receiving state aid.
For more on this story, see the story here and in our print edition this Sunday. – AS