CREST HAVEN – County governments must abide by a 2-percent budget cap. A “sunset” provision in a state law dealing with arbitration awards is set to expire Dec. 31.
Freeholders passed a resolution June 13 urging Gov. Chris Christie and the Legislature to enact permanent legislation that would limit to 2 percent binding interest arbitration awards.
Before passage, Joseph Berg Sr., state delegate and president of Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 401, which represents members in the County Prosecutor’s Office, urged the resolution be tabled. He hoped that such action would allow a task force time to analyze the impact of any arbitration data from a collective bargaining standpoint.
Berg said the resolution was “a bit overzealous.” Further, he said he did not believe the action was an “attack” on law enforcement.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton told Berg there could be matters decided by arbitration, with higher percentage amounts, that could impact other departments. That’s because of the 2-percent mandate on budgets.
“We don’t want an arbitrator to give five or 10 percent; then we would have to cut the Department of Aging or Health,” Thornton said.
Berg said he would be “derelict in my duties” as a union representative and further as a county resident if he sought an increase that would be detrimental to residents or other departments.
In other action the board:
* Reappointed Claire McArdle and Frank Garcia, and appointed Judy Kunec to a three-year term as members of the Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Board. Terms end June 30, 2020. Members serve without compensation.
* Approved Historic Preservation Trust Fund grant to Historic Cold Spring Village Foundation for $26,179 to preserve and stabilize three buildings at the Lower Township living history museum.
* Approved a $195,000 Open Space project to improve Stone Harbor’s bike path from 80th to 122nd Street; $373,992 for the Lower-Middle Township bike path; $500,000 to Upper Township for the Harbor Road Bike-Pedestrian Gateway.
* Approved an $18,000 Historic Preservation Trust Fund grant to The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities for chimney restoration on the Emlen Physick Estate.
* Approved a $107,352 Historic Preservation Trust Fund grant for Naval Air Station Wildwood sliding door restoration on Hangar One at Cape May County Airport.
* Awarded a $557,760 contract to Diehl Electric Inc. of Hammonton for various utility improvements on Bridge Commission bridges.
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