by Linda Baum
While every other board and commission in Middletown is 100% volunteer, the Sewerage Authority (TOMSA) board members are highly compensated – they receive salary, pension credit, and health benefits. The board meets once a month for less than an hour.
When the Sewerage Authority was formed back in the 1960s, the board met between 3 and 5 times a week during the period when the sewer system was being designed. Today, the board’s effort is no greater than that of any other board in town, all the rest of whom volunteer their time.
Further, in the beginning TOMSA board members received only an annual stipend of $1000. They did not receive pension or medical benefits, which are in violation of the Township’s own ordinances that state that TOMSA board members shall receive no compensation other than salary.
There are 5 regular members and 2 alternates on the TOMSA board. Today, the annual salaries are $2,150 for the chairperson and $1,750 for other members. Health and pension benefits are worth tens of thousands more.
In 2009, in response to a new state law, the Township Committee passed Ordinance No. 2009-2967, which states “the Township Committee of the Township of Middletown believes it is the best interest of the taxpayers of the Township to eliminate the receipt of pension and/or health benefits by part-time elected and appointed officials”.
That ordinance stripped pension and health benefits for new board appointees but allowed for the continuation of benefits for any board member currently receiving them.
Thus, the Township Committee can save taxpayers a great deal of money by not re-appointing TOMSA board members as terms expire. Yet the re-appointments continue.
At Middletown’s annual organization meeting on Jan 6th, the Township Committee re-appointed to 5-year terms three members of the Sewerage Authority board whose current terms expire on Feb. 1st.
One of the re-appointees, Thomas Stokes, has been on the TOMSA board 25 years next month and has lived out-of-state half the year since 2010. With his re-appointment to the board, Mr. Stokes was changed from a regular member to an alternate, no doubt to save him the trouble of attending meetings while he continues to collect salary and benefits through Feb. 2018.
The patronage needs to end. Residents should demand that the Township Committee pass an ordinance eliminating all compensation – salary and benefits – for all board members.
Eliminating TOMSA board perks would save Middletown property owners over $100,000 a year.
8 comments:
This is a no brainer.
The Township Committee has an obligation to not spend tax dollars on unnecessary services/products/goods. Healthcare and pensions and stipends are unnecessary for citizens who volunteer -- in the spirit of and committment to public service -- for authorities and boards and commissions and committees.
In the case of The Township Sewerage Authority (TOMSA) it isn't about public service it is about patronage, payback, political affiliation (Republican) reward. I has been this way for thirty years and it could have been legally implemented about six years ago.
The laws and ordinances referenced in Ms. Baum's letter exist to stop this patronage and more importantly stop squandering tax dollars on health care and pensions for those who volunteer their service and don't deserve property tax supported health care and pensions.
The Township Committee continues to squander tax dollars every time they re-appoint a TOMSA 'volunteer'. Three big offenders are Tom Stokes and Pat Parkinson and Joan Smith; the even bigger offenders are those -- Scharfenberger, Fiore, Senttenbrino, Massell and Murray -- who consistently vote to re-appoint them to the Authority.
A couple of problems with Anon at 7:16's post.
First, TOMSA doesn't spend tax dollars. They spend from their own budget, which is raised by sewerage fees.
The TOMSA Board sets it fees and spends it's own money. My understanding is that Middletown has lower fees than many in the state and that TOMSA regulary runs at a surplus and returns that surplus to offset property taxes.
That, plus the Executive Director is NOT a member of the board and is NOT appointed by the TC.
Maybe next time you call something a "no-brainer" you might try using your brain before you type...
TOMSA is a public entity, and whether we call revenue fees or taxes, it is public money. If TOMSA funds transferred to the Twp's budget are called tax relief, then the funds can be fairly characterized as taxpayer money.
Regardless, board members don't deserve compensation. That's not arguable, and it doesn’t matter what public funding source they are paid from.
Money saved is more money for tax relief. Period.
No question about it....the Middletown republicans certainly protect their own and the practices with regard to TOMSA are ludicrous.
More to the point these very characters exhibit conduct that they are "entitled".
No person elected to public office for any length of time is entitled to extort the taxpayers in the town in which they serve. NO ONE, NONE!
The practices at TOMSA are comparatable to extortion. The only person of the bunch who qualifies for pension or lifetime health benefits is Parkinson who is a municipal employee covered by the full time employee benefits programs. The rest of them are nothing more than greedy politicians.
Political party loyalty has nothing to do with qualifying for these benefits. If the Republican party wants to provide benefits to party loyalists, then let the Republican Party provide and PAY for those benefits ! It would never happen !
It is not an obligation the taxpayers in this town are required to provide or pay for !
And Mr. Parkinson is now collecting those free health benefits for life on top of his pension. Mr. Parkinson is no longer Director of TOMSA.
TOMSA runs at a surplus?
If they are the sewerage authority and they set the rate, then if they are operating at a surplus doesn’t that mean they are overcharging for the service?
Why isn’t the surplus used to offset the next year’s sewerage fees instead of providing tax relief?
So down the road when they have sent all of the surplus monies to the township for tax relief and the surplus runs out they will raise the rate. How is that not now just another tax?
TOMSA provides service to Atlantic Highlands, why should surplus sewerage fees collected from Atlantic Highlands residents be used to balance Middletown’s municipal budget?
And finally, what is the alleged defense for reappointing members to the board and paying for their healthcare?
From time to time the Mayor has come on local forums and this blog to attempt to correct a perceived misconception, where is he?
What are we missing here Mr. Mayor?
Because this seems to be an open and shut case of either incompetence, blatant political patronage or an unfortunate combination of the two.
There are always two sides to a story. How do you defend this?
Mr. Fiore is no longer mayor.
I know. That is why I said "the Mayor" referring to the position, not the person holding the office.
The precedent has been set that the person holding the office of the Mayor has at times posted on local forums and this blog to defend his position.
Absent that, I am left to believe that he his position is indefensible which explains the lack of response.
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