Mannington Committee adopts retiree health benefits, appoints township insurance contact and hires seasonal worker

Mannington Township’s Committee adopted a set of administrative and personnel measures at its March 16 workshop, including a Chapter 48 resolution to cover post‑retirement medical and dental benefits for qualifying longtime appointed officials.

Deputy Mayor DiGregorio proposed paying health benefits for full‑time appointed officials who have 25 or more years of service and were hired before 2005; Committeeman Mitchell and Mayor Richard A. Eber, Jr. supported moving forward. The committee voted to agree to pay medical and dental costs for those retirees under the rules of the New Jersey Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS); the roll call recorded Eber, DiGregorio and Mitchell voting yes.

The Chapter 48 resolution the committee adopted implements N.J.S.A. 52:14‑17.38 and directs Mannington to adhere to the State Health Benefits Program rules. The resolution, as described in the meeting record, applies to appointed officials hired prior to October 2005 with 25 or more years credited to PERS; it also commits the township to provide required documentation to the Division of Pensions and Benefits and to reimburse eligible retirees for Medicare Part B premium charges where applicable.

The committee also moved several staff and administrative actions. Committeeman Mitchell moved, and Deputy Mayor DiGregorio seconded, to appoint Patti L. Davis as Alternate Fund Commissioner to the Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland Counties Municipal Joint Insurance Fund; that motion carried. The committee separately adopted a resolution naming Patti L. Davis as the township’s primary contact person for the Employment Practices Liability (EPL) Attorney Consultation Service and naming Mayor Richard A. Eber, Jr. as an additional contact.

Deputy Mayor DiGregorio raised potential revenue options during new business, suggesting the township consider auctioning foreclosed properties and reviewing the recreational field because of maintenance and liability concerns. He also noted potential revenue if Harris Propane obtains a certificate of occupancy this summer and if the township adopts a retail cannabis ordinance; those were raised as possibilities rather than formal proposals and no ordinance vote occurred.

On personnel actions, the committee discussed hiring Michael Parris as a part‑time seasonal Public Works employee; the record states the position would be 15 hours per week, Monday through Friday, at $21.29 per hour. The motion to hire Parris, moved by DiGregorio and seconded by Mitchell, carried. The committee also reinstated Tiffany Ollek as the on‑call clerical worker at $20 per hour, effective March 19, 2026.

The meeting record shows the committee approved minutes for workshops held March 2 and March 9, 2026, and approved closed‑session minutes from March 2, 2026 (DiGregorio abstained on the closed‑session approval). The committee opened and closed a public comment period with no public speakers recorded and adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Adopt Chapter 48 retiree benefits resolution — motion carried (roll call: Eber yes, DiGregorio yes, Mitchell yes). Appoint Patti L. Davis as Alternate Fund Commissioner — motion carried (moved by Mitchell, seconded by DiGregorio; tally not specified). Designate EPL contacts (Patti L. Davis primary; Richard A. Eber, Jr. additional) — motion carried (moved by DiGregorio, seconded by Mitchell; tally not specified). Hire Michael Parris, part‑time seasonal Public Works (15 hrs/wk at $21.29/hr) — motion carried (moved by DiGregorio, seconded by Mitchell; tally not specified). Reinstate Tiffany Ollek as on‑call clerical at $20/hr — motion carried (moved by Mitchell, seconded by DiGregorio; tally not specified). Approve minutes (3/2 and 3/9/2026) — motion carried (moved by Mitchell, seconded by DiGregorio; tally not specified); approve 3/2 closed‑session minutes — motion carried (DiGregorio abstained).

What this means: The Chapter 48 action commits Mannington to pay post‑retirement medical and dental coverage for eligible appointed officials in accordance with the State Health Benefits Program and N.J.S.A. 52:14‑17.38, and requires the township to submit necessary documentation to state pension officials. Other personnel appointments and hires were routine administrative actions. The suggestions to auction foreclosed properties or pursue cannabis licensing were raised as revenue options to be explored, not final decisions.

The committee is scheduled to follow normal administrative procedures to file the Chapter 48 documentation with state authorities; the meeting record does not schedule a further committee vote on the items discussed.