Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves cost‑of‑living raises for three department heads amid resident pushback
Summary
Edison Council passed an ordinance granting cost‑of‑living adjustments to three non‑bargaining positions — the business administrator, director of water & sewer, and director of public works — after residents questioned why high‑paid managers receive increases while rank‑and‑file raises are covered by bargaining units.
The Edison Township Council adopted ordinance 2,230 on Aug. 28, approving cost‑of‑living salary adjustments for three administrative positions not covered by collective bargaining: the business administrator, the director of water and sewer, and the director of public works.
During public comment, resident Lois asked, “Why do we need to give a cost of living increase?” and said she found the increases for high‑salaried officials difficult to justify given fiscal constraints. The council and staff responded that most other municipal employees receive contractually negotiated raises via bargaining units and that this ordinance covers only the three specifically named positions. "These are individuals who are not part of a contract unit," a staff member said.
Council members debated fairness and precedent in the public exchange. One resident and several council members asked how often such adjustments are made; staff said the timing of prior adjustments is a matter of record and that pay increases in this ordinance would be reflected in ongoing salary payments rather than a one‑time lump sum.
After public comment, the council carried the ordinance on a roll call. Council members asked the administration to ensure parity where possible and to document the frequency and rationale for future non‑bargaining salary adjustments.
Next step: administration will supply records of prior non‑bargaining salary adjustments on request and the finance office will reflect the salary changes in payroll processing.
