Pink Slip

Dear employees on this list, I take no glee in informing you that you are targeted for layoff. I believe you haven’t been officially notified yet, your only warning has been word of mouth.

In a memo dated March 5, 2009 to the state’s Division of Local Human Resource Management, appointed Union County Manager, George Devanney informs the state that the county intends to issue eight-four layoffs (although he uses the number 83 in parenthesis). This brings up the question yet again, is being Senator Raymond Lesniak’s nephew enough to qualify you for the position of county manager?

At a glance it appears that the entire Department of Golf Operations is on the list which would point to impending privatization of the golf courses. George Devanney’s personal trainer is not on the list. Armando Sanchez was hired in 2008 and replaced 46 year employee William Gallman, Jr. who was earning $98,965 at the time of his retirement. Sanchez was hired with a starting salary of $110,000 a $11,035 salary increase for the same job – at the time. Now Sanchez will have a lot less to do.

Senator Nick Scutari’s father is on the layoff list but sources inside the county allege that he was transferred just 2 days ago to the Building Services department which would put him in a position to bump someone lower than him. George Devanney is on Scutari’s legislative staff and earns another $6,000 for this appointment.

It was announced previously that the entire Department of Engineering will be eliminated however, freeholder Sulllivan’s daughter managed to be transferred out of this department and will not be affected.

Star-Ledger reporter Gabriel Gluck retired from the paper and was put on the county payroll during a hiring freeze on 1/10/09. No one knows when the freeze went into effect, including the county, even though it was announced with much fanfare in 2006 it was obviously a PR gimmick.

No one in the extensive office of Public Information is on the list, even though most counties do without this service. Even Gov. Corzine cut back the states press corps when he first took office. The county needs this office to manipulate and intimidate the media and churn out fluff press releases to cover up their incompetence, waste, mismanagement and especially their corruption.

Gabe Gluck’s wife Joyce Marinelli is on the layoff list. Gluck’s beat included the county, he was charged with covering the railroad reactivation, what could arguably be called the most important public safety issue of the decade. The freeholders and Devanney lied to the public about the reactivation, yet Gluck who was charged with being a government watchdog managed to cover this story and stay in the county’s good graces to go on to become the county manager’s ‘Confidential Assistant” with a starting salary of $91,856. This title is bogus and has no salary range. Any political hack with any background can walk into this position.

There are no layoffs planned at the patronage pit which is Runnells Hospital even though it bleeds money annually. Some people on the payroll there include:

The county manager’s mother in law
The deputy county manager’s nephew
Senator Scutari’s uncle
An array of elected municipal officials

The county payroll has gone up exponentially over the years even though the number of employees has stayed about the same. What has happened since Devanney forced his way on board by having 2 part-time positions created for him is the payroll has become more top heavy. Getting away with rampant patronage wasn’t enough, these hacks wanted promotions and salary increases. There are many examples of the institutional nepotism which has plundered the county payroll and is now pushing the hard working employees out of jobs, and imperiled their pensions.

Remaining employees can take action. The F.B.I. needs you to contact them. You have access to information, you are present during these back-door meetings and can wire up, you can document and record the favors to contractors and the quid pro-quos that can put them in prison.

Not one of you is safe. At election time the county finds ways to warn employees of the impending doom should the Union County Democratic Committee slate not be reelected. If the county was run in a professional above board manner the only cloud facing employees today would be over the connected heads. The hard working, honest employees who are qualified for their jobs would have nothing to face but another hard day of honest work in what was meant to be public service.

You can’t be anonomous. You will have to fully cooperate in order to have any impact. I don’t recommend you call the State A.G. it is apparent that politics are still running the show there.

If you suspect criminal activity in Union County Government contact:
U.S. Attorney General’s Office (973) 645-2700
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If you are aware of waste or mismanagement contact: State Comptroller 1-866-547-1121, or send an email to comptrollertips@osc.state.nj.us.