Dear Editor:
Several weeks ago, it was revealed that when Peter Cammarano received his paycheck for the three weeks he served as Mayor before his resignation, included in the payment, at the behest of the “city personnel department”, was $4,200 for a full year’s worth of unused vacation days. I know that I am not the only person in Hoboken who considered this an outrage, especially in light of our financial predicament, and although the State Fiscal Monitor approved it, I can’t imagine any rationale by which it could be deemed justifiable. Despite subsequent appeals from Acting Mayor Zimmer and Governor Corzine for Mr. Cammarano to voluntarily return the payment, he failed do so.
Last week, I was dismayed to learn that “Hoboken officials” have decided not to pursue the issue further because the cost of legal action would exceed the value of any recovery. While I question that calculation, I also wonder if they considered that the potential cost for Mr. Cammarano to defend himself against such an action, under his current circumstances, might be enough of a disincentive for him to fight it. What would it take for us to at least float that out there?
I recognize that, in the greater scheme of things, this is relatively small potatoes, though it all adds up. But considering the troubles that Mr. Cammarano’s actions have caused us, including the cost and disruption of a special election (perhaps we should be suing him for that), it might be worth it to continue pursuing the matter, if only on principle, and to send a message that this is the kind of thing that will no longer be tolerated here. I urge our officials to reconsider their decision. I also urge Mr. Cammarano to reconsider his decision, save the city the trouble of wasting any further resources on this matter, and return the money that he clearly did not earn.
Steve Kosmacher