Oceanport council approves budget on third try
Controversial boro administrator post cut to part time
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

OCEANPORT - The position of borough administrator in the borough continues to be a contentious issue among council members who did agree on a municipal budget last week after two failed attempts.

At a third special budget meeting May 10, council voted 4-2 to approve a resolution to amend the municipal spending plan.

"I think we are doing a disservice to the taxpayers," said Councilman Gerald Briscione, after voting no on the $6,209,742 budget, which includes a $40,000 salary for a part-time borough administrator.

Councilman John Ibex also voted against the spending plan.

At the same meeting, Councilman Hugh Sharkey made two motions regarding the position of borough administrator, a borough post that has been vacant for more than 20 years in Oceanport.

The first motion to rescind a recently adopted resolution, to hire a consulting firm for up to $15,000 to study the administrative offices in the municipality, was approved 5-1 by council.

The second motion to hire Susan Veitengruber as part-time borough administrator failed after Mayor Lucille Chaump broke the 3-3 tie among council members and voted against the motion.

"I said to not hire this particular person because it is not a fair and open process," Chaump said in an interview after the meeting.

"You need to advertise, interview and select a person and check out their résumé," she said, adding, "You do not hire someone when you haven't seen the résumé.

"It was never even discussed with our finance committee," she added.

The original $6,232,940 budget was trimmed by more than $23,000 after a motion to adopt it failed to be seconded April 19.

At another meeting on May 3, council again failed to second a motion to approve the reduced $6,209,742 spending plan.

But at the special meeting last week, the majority of council agreed on the amended $6,209,742 spending plan after Councilman William Johnson made a motion to approve it.

Voting yes on the motion were Johnson, Sharkey, Councilwoman Ellynn Kahle and Councilman Richard Gallo.

The amendments to the budget include a $17,000 cut in municipal employee salaries, as well cutting the $75,000 salary for a full-time borough administrator by $35,000 to create a part-time position for $40,000.

Plans also include using $25,000 of surplus in the budget.

A public hearing and final vote to adopt the budget is scheduled to be held at the regular council meeting May 24 at 8 p.m.

Also at the meeting, Ibex made a motion, which failed 4-2, to amend the budget by increasing the proposed cuts to municipal employee salaries by $9,000 as well as to cut the funds for borough administrator from $40,000 to $20,000.

"Although I do not agree with a borough administrator," Ibex said, "$20,000 would certainly supply a borough administrator of some sort.

"I am dramatically opposed to a borough administrator. In my opinion, it has not been articulated or demonstrated why we need one," he said.

Ibex added, "Get this borough off the dime. Get a budget in place and get back to the work we were elected to do."

Ibex further recommended that the borough wait on the report to be issued by an appointed volunteer panel after it conducts a study on whether the borough needs to fill the position of borough administrator.

Briscione agreed with the amendments proposed and seconded the motion.