Council reintroduces salary ordinance setting not-to-exceed pay; public questions amount

The Edison Township Council reintroduced a salary ordinance (2275) on Feb. 11 that establishes not-to-exceed salaries for certain officers, department heads and township employees and set a public hearing for Feb. 25, 2026.

The clerk read the ordinance title and the council moved to introduce it for first reading; the roll call to introduce carried. Council members and several residents raised concerns about the scale of the increase and requested the specific figures be made available to the public. A resident at the microphone later reported the number being distributed at the back table (cited there as $26,500 as a comparison figure), and multiple speakers said they need more time and clearer documentation before endorsing the change.

Council President Coyle said the administration placed summary materials on the back table for attendees and encouraged public review. Supporters argued that a modest introductory salary can broaden eligibility for public office to people of more modest means; critics said compensation should not come at the expense of hiring police, firefighters or public-works staff.

Next steps: the ordinance remains at first reading and will be the subject of a public hearing on Feb. 25, 2026. The clerk and administration said detailed comparative figures and a justification matrix will be made available before that hearing.