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Council approves $15.98 million in disbursements; members press for River Street oversight and union retro pay clarity
Summary
The Paterson council approved disbursements totaling $15,977,130.19, including two payrolls. Council members asked for documentation on oversight for the River Street reconstruction contract and for reconciliation of retroactive union payments; the BA said the city is working through differing calculations with unions.
The Paterson Municipal Council on June 23 approved payment of bills totaling $15,977,130.19, a roll that includes two payroll cycles totaling $11,834,310.74 and additional expenditures. The finance chair presented the breakdown and asked for roll call approval, which the council provided.
Several council members raised questions about oversight for major projects and outstanding contractual obligations. Councilman Mendes said he has repeatedly requested proof that an outside firm hired to oversee the River Street reconstruction was providing on-site project oversight and that he has not seen evidence of that presence nor related payments in the packet. The business administrator (referred to in the transcript as Mr. BA) said he would ask for the details and forward responses to the full governing body.
Members also asked about retroactive payments owed under union contracts. The BA said the city and unions have slightly different calculations for retro pay and the administration is conducting due diligence to reconcile numbers, noting the city performed a similar reconciliation with the police contract previously.
The payment roll passed on council vote and the council asked staff to circulate oversight documentation for the River Street project and to update the governing body on the union reconciliations.
