BRICK — A proposed ordinance limiting the mayor’s salary should the mayor have a second job outside the township was passed unanimously Tuesday night on its first reading by the seven-member Township Council.
According to the ordinance, which comes up for adoption in two weeks, the “Township Council desires to provide a salary reduction for the position of mayor when the mayor only works part-time as mayor as a result of other employment in a full-time job elsewhere, so that a mayor does not receive full-time pay for part-time work.”
The ordinance, if passed, would reduce the mayor’s salary to $15,000, if the mayor holds a full-time job — defined as employment for at least 35 hours per week — in addition to leading the township.
“The figure of $15,000 seems like a fair number for a part-time salary. Council members make $8,000 as their part-time salary, and the mayor has more responsibilities,” said John Ducey, the council president.
The mayor received $15,000 years ago when it was a part-time position, Ducey said. The current salary for the township mayor is $52,000 per year, though Acropolis has pledged he would take only $1 as salary for this year.
In addition to Acropolis being Brick’s mayor, he also has been executive director of the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority since July 2010. In that position, Acropolis receives $93,000 in salary.
Acropolis’ earning two salaries from two public service jobs has been an issue of contention with residents and rankled Ducey and his running mates in the November election. A Dec. 6 proposal to reduce the mayor’s salary failed by a 4-3 vote, made prior to four Democrats, including Ducey, assuming the majority of seats on what had been an all-GOP council. The group pledged to confront the issue once they were on the council.
“It’s not about a particular mayor but about the position. If you’re taking a full-time salary, you should be working full time,” Ducey said.
Excerpted from Jan 11, 2011 Asbury Park Press