HOBOKEN – Police officers and city employees impacted by the upcoming personnel changes announced by Mayor Dawn Zimmer on Wednesday will have to wait two to four weeks for the state Civil Service Commission to approve the changes to know exactly who will be out of work and which police officers will be demoted, Zimmer’s press spokesperson Juan Melli said Wednesday afternoon.
“There will be no announcement until we hear back from the Civil Service Commission,” Melli said. “Then we’ll announce the specific positions and departments.”
The administration announced Wednesday afternoon their plan to lay off 36 employees and demote 19 police superiors in order to save $2.5 million per year.
“This is based on both the economy and the fact that the city needs to live with its means,” Melli said. “We’re [the city] a normal hard working family and we have to make tough choices.”
The 18 layoffs from the police department will occur after 19 senior officers are demoted, the city said. A state police audit in February found that the department “contained more superior officers than was necessary to maintain essential police services” One captain, six lieutenants and four sergeants are expected to be among those demoted.
Melli said that the people demoted will be “dictated by the Civil Service Commission. There’s a formula, based on seniority. The city doesn’t get a choice.”
He said there has been no new comment from Police Chief Anthony Falco beyond his earlier disagreement with the audit findings.
Melli said the city doesn’t know how many civilians will need to be hired to do the police clerical positions. “That also depends on the Civil Service Commission’s reply,” he said.
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Who’s being demoted and laid off in Hoboken?
