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Unions press Essex County commissioners over $ transfers for DFAB; board approves year-end reallocations
Summary
Public commenters and union leaders pressed commissioners about a year-end transfer of appropriations impacting DFAB and corrections staffing; county treasurer said the transfer used salary savings and the board approved the transfer after questioning and requests for written justification.
Several union leaders and DFAB staff used the public-comment period to challenge a year-end transfer of appropriations (resolution number 6) that moved money among departments. James Choisi, speaking for the FOP, and David Weiner, president of CWA Local 1081, both flagged large reallocations and operational impacts, including a $1,600,000 reallocation cited to corrections staffing and an approximately $330,000 settlement noted as coming before the board.
Lisa Maddox Douglas, representing DFAB supervisory and managerial employees, said DFAB remains understaffed and described prolonged backlogs in benefits processing. She cited timeliness statistics presented at the meeting (processing rates improving to roughly 49% for 30-day cases and 48% for 7-day cases in November 2024) and said unions sought a written explanation of the transfer and the administration’s justification.
County Treasurer Hussam Mohammed described resolution 6 as a routine intra-budget transfer permitted in late-year months and said the transfers relied on salary savings ("no-pay" leave) that produced roughly $5,000,000 available for reallocation; he added these movements do not authorize new spending beyond the adopted budget and said they should not disrupt services because payroll had already been finalized.
Commissioners pressed for more written backup and sought comparisons of staffing levels and vacancy counts over the year. The administration said it would provide the requested documentation and review the concerns during upcoming budget hearings. The board approved resolution 6 on roll call after discussion; several commissioners asked staff to return with more detailed, written justification for the transfers and with updated staffing metrics for DFAB during the budget process.
What changed: The board approved the transfer as a routine year-end budget action, but commissioners recorded follow-up directions to the administration to provide written justification and staffing comparisons to address public and union concerns.
