Lower Looks at Police Sergeant Reduction, Rec. Dept. Transfers

VILLAS — Lower Township Council is looking at cost saving budget measures that include not replacing two retiring police sergeants, moving four recreation department employees to public works to offer year-round recycling and taking bids to outsource grass cutting of municipal properties.
At a special budget work session meeting Monday, Auditor Leon Costello said the town-ship, like most municipalities in the county, is faced with increasing salaries, health benefits and pension costs while revenue has declined due to the drop in new construction.
Mayor Michael Beck said he met with Police Chief Edward P. Donohue, Capt. Louis Russo, Township Manager Kathy McPherson, and Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare and came to a conclusion that the police department can be reduced by two sergeants in the administrative staff “without impacting the safety of our residents.
Lare said the sergeants worked in administrative positions and the cut would not remove officers from the street.
Beck said the township needed to make cuts in personnel costs “or we are not going to make it next year and then we will be in a position with our backs against the wall where we are doing layoffs.
“We would have no choice, the state would not accept our budget,” he continued.
Beck said not replacing the two sergeants would save the township $300,000 per year b-ginning in 2010.
Councilman Glenn Douglass said he op-posed the proposed reduction in police staffing fearing officers would not have the necessary back up on the street. He said he believed the police chief agreed to the reduction “under pressure.
Beck said by 2011, a police sergeant with 21to 25 years of experience would have a base salary of over $100,000 plus a $16,000 health package, $17,000 for pension and 8 percent for Social Security total-ing close to $150,000 per person.
Beck said he is also suggesting reducing a supervisory position in public works through attrition, which he said would produce similar savings.
“I’ll get rid of all this if you give me the power to freeze wages, “ he said.
Beck said he would reduce the amount of cars driven home by township employees to just four vehicles. At one time, the township had 12 cars being driven home, he said. Three vehicles would be used within the police de-partment, one in public works.
“We’re playing the cards out that were dealt to us, that we got Jan. 1 when we came here,” said Beck.
He noted the outgoing township council ap-proved $400,000 in employee raises last December.
“Now we have to try to mop this up,” said Beck.
Lare proposed offering township residents year-round recycling pick up which is currently offered only May through September. He asked for council support for the transfer of four, full time recreation department groundskeepers to public works to provide full-year recycling pick up and streamline operations.
Lare said the transition date for those employees would be Oct. 1 and they would receive a $10,000 pay increase as required by Civil Service. He said the tax levy would not be increased to provide year-round recycling.
Lare said the cost to the owner of a $300,000 home would be $2.52 next year for recycling.
He suggested the township examine outsourcing grass cutting and put mowing of public properties out to bid. He said if it did not prove to be cost effective then “we will not do it.”
Lare said it would not be a reduction of employees but a redirection to other duties.
With the elimination of two full time positions in public works, more temporary, seasonal employees will be hired, he said.
Beck said there would not be any layoffs of township employees but council would “ask employees to do more with less.” He said when an employee leaves; they may not be replaced,
“We need to make cuts that should have been made a long time ago,” said Beck.