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Paterson council approves $11.79 million in bills; Jackson votes no
Summary
The Paterson Municipal Council voted 5–1 on April 8 to approve payment of $11,792,384.68 in bills, with Councilman Jackson the lone no vote. Council members said the majority of the total — about $6.27 million — is payroll for city employees.
The Paterson Municipal Council voted 5–1 on April 8 to approve payment of $11,792,384.68 in bills, a package council members said pays city employees and vendors through the end of the pay period.
Councilwoman LaLisa Mims, vice chair of the finance committee, said the list includes payroll and routine operating payments and urged passage. “The items that are presented in this bills list are to pay our employees and also to pay services rendered,” Councilwoman LaLisa Mims said during the workshop session.
The vote came after a split among council members over accountability for administrative spending. Councilman William Jackson said he could not in good conscience approve the bill list because, he said, certain high-salaried posts had not appeared at meetings to answer council questions and he criticized what he described as a “lack of response” from the administration. “My vote is no,” Jackson said on the record after explaining his objections.
Madam Clerk conducted a roll call. The clerk recorded yes votes from Councilwoman Cotton, Councilwoman Mims, Councilman Newton, one council member identified as “Casper Nomar” in the roll call transcript, and the council president. The clerk recorded Jackson’s no vote. The official tally recorded by the clerk was five in favor, one opposed and three absent; the motion carried.
Council leaders and members stressed to the public that payroll made up the majority of the disbursement. Council President Rafael (first name on record as “Rafael” in the transcript) said roughly $6,272,636 of the payment list was for employee payroll. “It is important that the community knows and understands that,” he said.
The council considered but removed several agenda items before voting and directed some items to committees for further review, but the payment of bills proceeded on the agenda as presented.
The council will take up separate budget and appropriation matters at a later meeting; the payment-of-bills vote covered current invoices and payroll only.
