HUDSON COUNTY – Former Jersey City Schools Superintendent Charles Epps is receiving $195,000 annual pension, leading scores of Hudson County officials who receive more than $100,000 annually, according to New Jersey Watchdog.
The retirement funding is 75 percent of the average of a person’s last three years salary before retirement.
Of more than two dozen retirees in Hoboken receiving in excess of $100,00, retired Acting Hoboken Police Chief Robert Lisa is receiving $135,794, former Hoboken Fire Chief John Cassesa is receiving $144,195, and former Police Chief Carmen LaBruno is receiving $147,429.
Of the nearly three dozen in Jersey City, former Police Chief Thomas Comey is receiving$131,062.
Former Freeholder and North Bergen football coach Vincent Ascolese was among about a dozen retired public officials to exceed $100,000. Ascolese receives $180,180 annually.
Retired North Bergen Superintendent of Schools Robert Dandorph receives $159,900, and Peter Fischbach, former North Bergen schools superintendent receives $156,677.
Of the dozen members of the North Hudson Regional Fire Department retirees on the list, Fire Chief Brion McEldowney receives $145,585.
Former Secaucus School Superintendent Constantino Scerbo receives $135,000 a year and is one of about a half dozen Secaucus people on the list.
Former Union City Police chief Brian Barrett is among about a dozen Union City officials on the list. Barrett receives $142,000. Former Police chief Charles Everett receives $146,852, and Police Captain Peter Cipoletta, $136,261. Former Union City Deputy Police Chief Joseph Blaettler receives $134,773.
Former Bayonne Police Chief Robert Kubert receives $155,530. Former Bayonne Fire Chief Thomas Lynch receives $124,081.
Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith, a retired Deputy Police Chief, is the only elected public official on this list, receiving $107,683. Smith’s political opponent in Bayonne, Police Captain James Davis, would also qualify for more than $100,000 if he retired, records show.
The retirement packages are somewhat deceptive since police and fire fighters do not qualify to collect social security benefits unless they also accrue 40 quarters of full-time private-sector work. They also receive a slightly different form of Medicare than ordinary retirees.
“There is a misnomer that police and fire officials get lifetime health benefits,” said one public-safety official in response to this list. “This isn’t true. Health benefits stop when we retire. We get Medicare.”
This list of $100,000 recipients is the exception, this official said.
“Most police and fire retire with average pensions between $50,000 to $75,000, and they don’t get Social Security.” — By Al Sullivan
The 100K retirement club
