HUDSON COUNTY — A report released Tuesday by the State Commission on Investigation — an unusual type of state committee that routinely investigates governments and agencies in New Jersey for corruption — blasted the “perks” received by city government employees and agency officials in the economic downturn.
In one case, they noted that West New York and Hoboken police officers get paid days off for weddings and baptisms. They also said that Union City workers get a paid day off for Christmas shopping! (Hopefully only on Bergenline Avenue though?)
The report went town by town listing problems. It notes: “In Union City, all civilian municipal employees receive one day’s leave at full pay every year for Christmas shopping. As stated explicitly in the contract between the city and the Union City Employees Association, “each permanent employee shall have one personal day as a Christmas Shopping Day preceding the Christmas holidays . . . .” This is in addition to five other personal days, 16 paid holidays – including a half-day each on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.”
There is more than a page dedicated to looking at Hoboken’s contracts and payouts. It mentions a large payout to recently retired Hoboken Police Chief Carmen LaBruno.
The report notes about Hoboken:
“Over the past several years, Hoboken has been mired in a financial crisis that has forced it to lay off workers, freeze hiring, cut services and boost local property taxes by nearly 80 percent. In 2008, the city failed to adopt a municipal budget and was placed under the supervision of a state monitor.
“Against this troubled backdrop, however, the city nonetheless paid more than $7.3 million in cash to retiring employees in exchange for accrued leave between 2004 and 2009, pursuant to the terms of city personnel policies and negotiated contracts.”
And the police “also qualify variously for a mix of special leave benefits, including days off as an incentive for not taking sick leave, time off for donating blood and personal days off for private events, such as weddings and baptisms.”
In West New York, a provision for city employees: “Meanwhile, police officers in West New York receive time off not only for weddings but also for Baptisms, Confirmations and First Holy Communions, provided they take an active role in the ceremony.”
In the past, the SCI has found problems in places like the Jersey City SPCA, which was finally closed down last year after poor health inspections.
This time around, the report concluded, “There has been no concerted effort to rein in lavish, unreasonable and excessive public employee benefit costs in a comprehensive fashion.”
And that goes well beyond days off. In other towns, the SCI said, employees retired with over $100,000 each in paid leave.
For more on the report’s local findings, click here on Sunday or watch for our print editions.
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