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Hawthorne council approves consent agenda, introduces salary ordinance and passes emergency temporary budget
Summary
Council approved a consent package of resolutions including reestablishing the Green Team and engineering for bleacher work, introduced the 2025 salary ordinance for first reading, and passed an emergency temporary budget measure.
Hawthorne Borough Council on Jan. 22 approved a multi-item consent agenda, passed an emergency temporary budget resolution and introduced an ordinance to set 2025 employee salaries, wages and compensation.
The council voted by roll call to move the consent agenda, which included R20-25 to reestablish the borough Green Team and R25-25 to reaffirm the borough—s green grounds and maintenance policy; R28-25 approved Boswell Engineering for professional services on the WAG 2 and 3 bleacher improvements; and R29-25 approved assessment costs for the 2023 road program local aid projects. The consent motion was moved by Bennett and seconded by Skierra; the roll call showed unanimous support on the record.
Council members also voted to approve an emergency temporary budget resolution to add money to the temporary budget for social security and pension obligations; the motion was moved by Meeley and seconded by Sasso and passed by roll call.
On ordinances, the council introduced Ordinance 23-57-25, "An ordinance to fix the 2025 salaries, wages and compensation of the employees of the Borough of Fort Thorn," on first reading and scheduled final consideration for Feb. 19. The introduction followed a roll-call motion (moved by Meeley, seconded by Skiera) and passed on first reading. The ordinance adds three positions to the salary ordinance: a part-time licensed operator for the water system, a zoning officer/local code supervisor (reassigning duties after a retirement) and an increase in the public defender rate from $300 to $600 per court session.
Why it matters: The salary ordinance change includes hiring a part-time licensed water-system operator to meet DEP operator requirements, a dedicated zoning/code position to cover duties vacated after retirements, and a public-defender pay increase intended to adjust decades-old compensation.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (regular meeting Jan. 8 and bid minutes Jan. 9): motion by Leosa, second by Sasso; roll call recorded yes votes from Schiara, Sasso, Miele, Leosa, Bennett and Matthews; motion carried. - Motion to close public comment: moved by Bennett, seconded by Schiara; passed by voice vote. - Emergency temporary budget (resolution): moved by Meeley, seconded by Sasso; roll call recorded unanimous yes votes; carried. - Consent agenda (resolutions R20-25 through R29-25 including Green Team reestablishment and WAG 2/3 engineering): moved by Bennett, seconded by Schiara; roll call recorded unanimous yes votes; carried. - Ordinance 23-57-25 (introduce on first reading): moved by Meeley, seconded by Skiera; roll call recorded yes votes and ordinance scheduled for final passage hearing Feb. 19.
Council comments and administrative notes: Administrator Eric Maurer and Director of Public Works Bill Heffler were thanked for snow response after a recent storm. The administration reported RFP reviews for architectural services for a police department/second-floor municipal space and for a lead-paint inspection implementation process. The borough also announced a grant application for ADA-compliant bleachers at WAG Field No. 1 and said Boswell Engineering will provide professional services on WAG 2 and 3 as authorized by the consent resolution.
No ordinance was adopted for final passage at the Jan. 22 meeting; action on the salary ordinance will return at the Feb. 19 meeting for final vote.
