The Long Branch City Council on Dec. 23 adopted Ordinance 26-24 on its second and final reading, a salary ordinance City staff said sets pay ranges for certain city employees and is effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Council President Viera moved to adopt the ordinance and the motion passed on a roll-call vote with the five members present voting "yes." The ordinance was introduced at the council's Dec. 11 meeting and held a public hearing limited to this ordinance before the adoption vote.

During the hearing, resident Vincent Lepore of 33 Ocean Terrace asked why the ordinance caption lists the year 2024 rather than 2025 and whether the salary schedule removes a full-time animal control officer. City staff (Mister Reynold and Mister Martin) told Lepore the ordinance is effective Jan. 1, 2024 and that the city traditionally adopts salary ordinances in December. They also said that the salary ordinance does not establish positions and that full-time titles and wages may be set by a collective bargaining agreement (CWA). Mister Reynold cited NJSA 40:69-43 as the statute allowing salaries to be set by ordinance or collective bargaining agreement.

Lepore requested a "no" vote on the ordinance, objecting to the nonunion elected-official salary bracket ranges shown in the document. Council and staff responded that the ordinance follows established practice and that collective bargaining covers some positions; the council nevertheless adopted the ordinance.

The ordinance adoption was procedural: the council closed the limited public hearing, moved to adopt on second and final reading and directed staff to advertise the ordinance according to law. The clerk recorded the roll-call vote as unanimous in favor.

The council did not modify the salary figures on the floor, and the record does not show any amendments adopted during the Dec. 23 meeting. Follow-up on detailed pay schedules and any interactions with collective bargaining agreements would fall to city human-resources staff and the negotiating units referenced in the ordinance.