The Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint Nicholas Goldsack as temporary tax collector in Secaucus. Goldsack will not be given a salary for his work in the Tax Office. Instead, he will receive a wage of $35 an hour.
A certified financial officer and certified tax collector, Goldsack most recently worked as a tax collector in Guttenberg.
The Town Council will hold a special session on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.
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The Hudson County Prosecutor is investigating Bartolozzi’s work with the union and his activities as Secaucus Tax Collector.
“The object right now is to appoint someone professional so that the normal activities of the office are consistent and continue in an orderly way,” said Mayor Richard Steffens during the meeting. The council, he added, believed it was important to “divide the [Tax] Office into two departments. One office will focus on the business of tax collecting. We also want to isolate the investigation so that can be handled properly. The goal is to let both functions of the department work. We feel this is the best way to go about it.”
Goldsack, a resident of Secaucus, has served as chief of staff to State Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D-32nd Dist.) He was also town administrator for West New York, a municipality that has seen its own financial drama unfold over the past 18 months. Last summer West New York suspended its chief financial officer for alleged “incredible incompetence” and for failing to keep the mayor and city commissioners apprised of budget shortfalls. In a petition filed with the state, West New York claims their former CFO made unauthorized payments totaling $172,000. (The CFO in turn filed suit against the town alleging that the mayor sexually harassed him.)
Goldsack was the town administrator in West New York for one year and resigned from the position last September.
Secaucus Town Administrator David Drumeler said the council has not set any limits on how many hours Goldsack may work or when his temporary appointment may end.
“Right now, we see him coming onboard pretty much full-time,” Drumeler said. “We have money in the budget for a full-time tax collector, who we haven’t been paying for three months since he’s been suspended without pay. So, it isn’t costing us any additional money to have [Goldsack] come in to the office full-time.”
It’s likely that Goldsack will remain in the position until next year when a new mayoral administration takes over and new appointments are made.
New fire fighters admitted
Three new members were sworn in to the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday. Jonathan Scheiner was accepted as a new member of Engine Company No. 1. Brian Innis was sworn in as a member of Washington Hook and Ladder. Finally, Sean Parisi, son of former Fire Chief Robert Parisi, was admitted as a member of Engine Company No. 1.
Budget vote on Wednesday
Mayor Steffens and the Town Council will hold a special session on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. The governing body will accept public comments on the 2009 municipal budget, which was introduced last month.
The $44.5 million budget introduced in July includes a municipal tax increase of .97 for every $1,000 of property owned by a resident. With the average Secaucus home assessed at $165,000, the .97 tax increase would translate to an annual increase of $160.05 for the average homeowner.
If approved, this .97 municipal take hike would come on top of a .27 increase from Hudson County and a .36 increase from the local school system.
After hearing public comments the council will take a vote on the 2009 budget, including the proposed tax increase.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.