Interesting read of Steve Silva’s post - $111,420 worth of public propaganda (referring to Mr. D’Elia) AND John’s post - Go Green (2) The Pushers, commented on by jbkenrenhata (who I’m led to believe is the same Mr. D’Elia). In both, Mr. D’Elia comments on MOU for the 20 year lease extension with Covanta, the operator of the Union County Resource Recovery Facility.

Union County announces $276 million tax relief and waste disposal savings plan

“… lease extension.. that once finalized, will result in at least $276 million in tax relief… during the lifetime of the agreement.” I note that the agreement is for 20 years, the extension running until 2045, which, to me, indicates it would begin in 2025, 15 years from now.

“Under the lease extension terms, the County and its taxpayers will realize an additional $276 million in revenues - and tax relief- over the life of the proposed contract…. entering into a 20 year lease extension until 2045…” “the lease extension would also give Union County a 10 percent revenue share of proceeds from the sale of energy generated at the facility beginning in 2029 ” - (19 years from now).
The County’s 2010 budget is $472 million which represents a daily expenditure of $1.29 million per day.

The $276 million tax relief, over the 20 years, comes to $13.8 million per year or 10.7 days of expenditures in TODAY’S world. However, the $276 million wouldn’t start to be realized until 2025 when the extension is scheduled to begin. Based on the fact that the County’s budget has increased from $272 million in 1996 to $472 million in 2010 ( taken from the County website), an increase of 73.5% over that 15 year period, their budget could well be $819 million by 2025 when the lease extension takes effect. If that budget should happen, the County would then be spending $2.24 million per day and the $13.8 million would represent 6 days of County spending.

“As negotiations are ongoing, final details will be released later”

Do you think the headline for the press release once final details are released will be: Union County announces $276 million tax relief, to begin 15 years from now ??? representing 6 days of County expenditures per year
(I didn’t think you would!)

Steve Silva nailed it - public propaganda

Submitted by:
S T E V E S I L V A

Countywatchers note: When asked if this email exchange between Steve and the County’s Public Information Officer could be published Steve responded:

You can surely post this!

You can make my name in large letters - just like John Hancock!!!

They asked John Hancock why he signed his name so large: He responded, “So King George can read it without his glasses!!”

Steve Silva
________________________________________

I sent a short e:mail to Sebastian D’Elia asking about Union County taxes.

This is his response. (Notice: he let me know he “was off” when he supposedly responded.)

Keep up the great work.

Steve Silva

Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 2:07 PM
To: Sebastian Delia sdelia@ucnj.org
Subject: Union County - second highest taxes in the United States?

Sebastian D’Elia
Union County Information Director

Mr. D’Elia,

Hello.

Is it true that Union County has the second-highest taxes of any county in the United States?

If this is true would you kindly let me know why?

Thank you kindly.

Steven J Silva
Cranford
________________________________________
From: sdelia@ucnj.org
Sent: 8/8/2010 11:53:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: RE: Union County - second highest taxes in the United States?

Dear Steve: thanks for writing to me.

While I am off today, I am more than happy to take the time to answer your question.

I am afraid the answer to your question requires making three separate inquiries, since i can only account for County Government taxes—you should also contact Cranford, and the Cranford Board of Education to ask them the same question.

That is because your tax bill is comprised of three portions—Local government (Cranford in your instance), your School taxes, and your County taxes.

County taxes are the lowest portion (least amount) of your taxes in Cranford. The School Board is the highest amount you are taxed for, the Cranford municipal government is second largest piece of the pie.

Cranford’s municipal taxes have increased well over 70 percent since 2002, one of the highest rates of increase per municipality in the County. This year in 2010, Cranford municipal’s taxes –when combined with the sewer fee (which was split apart this year by the town and commissioners) rose about $185, bringing the average homeowner’s tax bill to approximately $8,905. In fact, you may want to email Mark Smith—he is the Mayor of Cranford, and can answer questions about his portion of the tax bill–the municipal end. His email is: M-Smith@cranfordnj.org
The study you refer to about your tax bill that you have heard about is here:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/23/taxes-homes-property-forbeslife-cx_mw_0123realestate.html.

You may read it and see what explains what metrics it uses.
As I can only speak for Union County government, I can tell we have embarked on a long-range tax relief plan that will provide $276 million in tax relief over the long haul to our municipalities. You may want to read it, I’ve enclosed it below. And thanks for writing to me.

Union County announces $276 million tax relief and waste disposal savings plan
Published: Wednesday, August 04, 2010, 1:56 PM Updated: Wednesday, August 04, 2010, 1:59 PM
Cranford Chronicle

ELIZABETH—The County of Union announced it will enter into a lease extension with Covanta, the operator of the Union County Resource Recovery Facility, that once finalized, will result in at least $276 million in tax relief as well as waste disposal rate savings for all of Union County and its municipalities during the lifetime of the agreement.

“At a time when all governmental authorities are suffering from a dramatic drop in revenues, it is more important than ever that we seek to maximize an asset that has reached peak value and can help deliver tax relief to our taxpayers,” Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan said. “This action would do that while guaranteeing that our municipalities and residents maintain low disposal rates at the Union County Resource Recovery Facility.”

Under the lease extension terms, the County and its taxpayers will realize an additional $276 million in revenues–and tax relief–over the life of the proposed contract, and there will also be an immediate rate reduction in the disposal fee from $64.44 to $61 per ton providing relief to Union County municipalities, private haulers and residents.
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders voted last Thursday to unanimously pass a resolution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), entering into a 20-year lease extension until 2045 with Covanta, which currently leases and operates the Union County Resource Recovery Facility (UCRRF), located in Rahway. The lease extension also gives Covanta the option extend the lease an additional five years to 2050 at the end of the term.

The lease extension would also give Union County a 10 percent revenue share of proceeds from the sale of energy generated at the facility beginning in 2029.
As part of the MOU, the Freeholder Board also authorized representatives of the Union County Utilities Authority to begin the process of finalizing various agreements, including obtaining an approval of the extension from several State agencies. As negotiations are ongoing, final details will be released later.

The UCRRF currently generates electricity while disposing of all municipal solid waste generated in Union County at rates which are already among the lowest in the region.
The State originally mandated all 21 of New Jersey’s County governmental entities to build their own incinerators during the early 90s, a mandate Union County reluctantly complied with at the time.

The UCRRF, which originally began operation in 1994, has delivered significant economic value to the County.

The average cost of municipal solid waste disposal in the County in 1995 was around $120 per ton. In 2008, the average cost was only around $75 per ton. The taxpayers of the County have already realized well in excess of $100 million in savings when compared with other waste disposal options in the 16 years UCRRF has been in operation, Sullivan said.

At the UCRRF, municipal solid waste is burned at high temperatures in combustion chambers, and the heat is used to generate steam which drives a turbine to produce 45 mega watts of clean, renewable electricity enough to satisfy energy needs of 35,000 homes annually.

In a letter attacking former Westfield Councilman Sal Caruana in retaliation for his recent insightful articles highlighting problems with Union County government, Sebastian D’Elia, who is the spokesperson for the Union County Freeholders with an annual salary of $111,415 made many misleading statements. I’d like to clarify one. Caruana never donated $1,000 to a political campaign of mine.

Sal Caruana donated $1,000 to the Union County Watchdog Association in 2007 after reading that the county had imposed an $8.00 an hour fee for our routine public records requests for back up documentation supporting certain county expenditures found in the county check registry.

The UCWA had challenged the county’s fee in a lawsuit and the county settled out of court. The UCWA regretted that it had become necessary to take legal action to secure for the general public the ability to view or obtain whatever public documents that they are entitled to by law. The taxpayers had to add these legal costs, $,1,857.45, to the cost of the freeholder meeting refreshments and travel expenses, the County Manager’s mother’s catered luncheon, and his home internet bills, and various other perks included in the withheld vouchers.

“These types of financial roadblocks are intended for the sole purpose of discouraging tax-burdened residents from demanding accountability from a county government that is clearly out of control and unconnected to the people” I wrote at the time.

These personal attacks on citizens are meant to do the same.

The vouchers in the lawsuit included:

$1,773.75 for Gourmet Dining c/o Kean University was ordered by the County Manager’s mother, Margaret Devanney (Sen. Lesniak’s sister), who works for Kean. Although county taxpayers paid for this gala there are no press releases regarding this event on the county website.

The county managers $1012.78 reimbursements included 2 months of home internet service, 2 work related dinner meetings, one lunch meeting, one breakfast meeting and $300.00 to establish petty cash.
Freeholder refreshment bills included:

$300 to Costa’s Restaurant for freeholder meeting held on March 12. The freeholders were served Penne Vodka, Linguini Carrbonara, Sausage and Peppers, Chicken Parm

$127.55 to stock the freeholder office with soda.

$295.00 to Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant for freeholder meeting held on January 8. The freeholders were served Eggplant Parmigiana, Baked Stuffed Shells, Chicken Cacciatore, Fried Mushrooms, Meatballs, with NO CHARGE being marked for Garlic Knots, Zeppoli’s, loaf of bread, and Ziti Marinara.

$166.00 to the Gourmet Deli for the freeholder budget hearing held on February 21. The freeholders were served an assorted sandwich platter with foccacia and tossed salad.

$380.00 to the Gourmet Deli for freeholder meeting held on March 1. The freeholders were served (can’t decipher the bill)

$166.00 to the Gourmet Deli for freeholder budget hearing held on February 28. The freeholders were served an assorted sandwich platter with foccacia and tossed salad.

$42.00 for a cake for a nutrition meeting at Ehrhart Gardens held on 2/27/07.

$171.72 to the Pizza King for freeholder meeting held on 3/2/07. The freeholders were served assorted pizzas and salad.

$225.00 to Napoli Deli for a Department of Human Services meeting held on 3/21.

$1,200 to Shades of Green to maintain the plants in the courthouse atrium and at police headquarters. Each location costs $200 a month to maintain. (Note: the county employees 2,842 people)

$2,983.50 for registration for 3 conferences including $1,320 for the NACO legislative conference for three freeholders to attend @ $440.00 each (this does not include expenses).

The Sheriff was reimbursed $519.78 for petty cash reimbursements including $26.60 for Dunkin’ Donuts.

Tina Renna is President of the Union County Watchdog Association. She can be reached at tinarenna@unioncountywatchdog.org

This letter appears in the Westfield Leader this week:

County Communications Dir. ($111,113 salary) Says, ‘Let’s Go To The Videotape’

I recently read a letter in your paper [The Westfield Leader] that Tina Renna wrote about her public appearance before the Freeholder Board in which shelaunched into a temper tantrum laced with profane language and epithets.
For the record, during the meeting, Ms. Renna was asked by Freeholder [Dan] Sullivan, “Is it true you are also a candidate for public office?” Ms. Renna misstated this question in her letter, and I wanted to make sure your readers read the truth. Not only did Ms. Renna refuse to answer this question about her candidacy and be fully transparent, but she immediately launched into the profane outburst – the highlights of which [sent to your newspaper for posting] are now available to your readers on goleader.com. Hours after the meeting, Ms. Renna also made public a video of herself acting out in which she continued to spew profanities and make personal attacks.

While it is truly sad and pathetic to watch Ms. Renna and those of her ilk who comport themselves in such an unprofessional and self-destructive manner in public, it is sadder to note that their actions continue to poison the well of public debate in this country while drowning out the voices of those who do so in a courteous and rational manner.

Sebastian D’Elia
Communications Director
County of Union
Editor’s Note: Mr. D’Elia providedthe video clip referenced, which can be viewed at www.goleader.com/ballyhoo -the latest edition - ALSO POSTED BELOW

Vendetta, The Movie
COUNTY — In production for several years, a newly released
promotional video clip features local protagonist Tiny Rhino, in full
glib and wide lip during a county government meeting. Director
Slab Delightful said he was proud of his editing to achieve just the
right video segment to portray the illusion of daft.
Both actress and director promise many exciting future releases.
Filming opportunities occur twice a month at Union County
Freeholder meetings in Elizabeth.
View the clip HERE

The term “A Renna Vandetta” was used in annonomous mailings to supports and clients of mine right after D’Elia lost a defamation lawsuit against myself and another blogger. A sample can be found in this post Help Hunt Nazis in Union County.
Other run ins with Freeholder Sullivan:
Dogging a Watchdog

County owned Sperry Park which is located in Cranford has been updated in recent years. Nine park benches were installed in time for Cranford’s share of county taxes to rise to $15,461,580 in 2010; that’s a $856,529 increase over 2009.

For some strange reason, one of the 9 benches is planted right in front of a “Union Conty We’re connected to you! This is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.” sign.

Are visitors expected to stop and reflect on their benevolent leaders? If so, shouldn’t the sign mention the $15,461,580 tax dollars for effect?

Previously reported: Signs of propoganda

Cast of the Jersey Shore: Standing: Ronnie, Vinny, Ammi “Sweetheart”, Nicole “Snooki”, DJ Pauly D. Kneeling: Jennie “J-WOWW”, Mike “The situation” Leaning: Union County Spokesman Sebastian D’Elia “The Hack”

$400,751 is the total salaries for the Union County Office of Public Information. A letter published last week and signed by Sebastian D’Elia, the head of this department (salary $111,420) nastily whines about my being misinformed about a cell tower. Besides its lie regarding my association with the county it states in part “Ms. Renna could have easily requested the bid documentation and the old lease and learned this, but chose not to”.

Easily? Placing an Open Public Records Act Request and then having to travel to Elizabeth during work hours to view it isn’t easy. Knowing what documents to ask for isn’t easy either; and if you don’t ask for the exact document that would answer your questions you are told no documents exist. I know from experience. I spend countless hours hunting down information on county expenditures.

What would be easy is if a citizen could simply have their questions answered at public meetings by freeholders who are paid approximately $30,000 per year for their part-time positions instead of being instructed to “place an OPRA” for more information. What would be easier is to be able to phone or email D’Elia, or his extensive staff and simply ask for information. They should work for the taxpayers instead of turning out fluff press releases for the Union County Democratic Committee freeholder slate.

The public information department as listed on the Union County website doesn’t include the public information departments of the Sheriff and Prosecutor’s office. The county sold a golf course and laid off an engineering department but leaves this in tact:

Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director - $111,420
Wayne Avery, Assistant Information Director - $65,168
Thomas Plante, Parks, Public Information Officer - $74,350
Jim Lowney, Staff Photographer, Public Information Officer - $60,568
Maritza Maseda, Bilingual Communications, Public Information Officer - $49,045
Tina Casey, General Assignment, Public Information Officer $41,200

Despite expending $400,751 in salaries for a public information department the county chooses not to have a transparent government and to make obtaining information difficult and even harasses citizens for trying to participate in the governmental process. The Union County Watchdog Association has uncovered much waste and abuse of the public trust over the years. I demand to know why this extensive department of public information and its freeholder board felt it necessary to have their spokesperson, who is more suited to represent the cast of the Jersey Shore, attack a citizen yet again, while making it difficult to obtain information and leaving many questions regarding public spending and health and public safety unanswered.

Let’s break this down: D’Elia was paid by our tax dollars to write this letter:
According to WikiAnswers there are 261 workdays in 2010. County employees get 13 paid holidays per year; 15 Sick days; 3 Personal days; department heads get a minimum of 20 vacation days.

51 days comp time deducted from 261 workdays = a 210 day work year for D’Elia.

Sebastian D’Elia’s salary: 210 days divided by $111,420 = $530.57 per day/$66.32 per hour (based on an 8 hour day; it might be only 7)

Previosly reported:
Chronicle of Harassment

County Employees and Campaigns

Emails to county go unanswered

The County Watchers Successfully Defend Libel Case

When will they release the cost

What a Coinky - Dinky…..

“Mrs. Renna wasted twenty-seven thousand tax dollars on this lawsuit.” Freeholder Daniel Sullivan, June 26, 2009 freeholder meeting in a statement read about the county setteling a lawsuit they lost pertaining to the official use of forms for OPRA requests.

Actually Danny it was $28,307.80 and quite frankly I’m tired of picking up the slack of informing the public and you freeholders who clearly have no clue as to what’s going on with our tax dollars.

From freeholder Sullivan’s personal attack against me (he read a letter to the editor submitted by some random citizen - it wasn’t this one) during last nights public meeting, it was clear he never even read the complaint, cross briefs or the facinating amicus brief filed by the New Jersey Press Association on behalf of our lawsuit.

Of course he wasn’t concerned about the subject of the lawsuit which has changed government for the better across NJ, he just wanted an excuse to harass someone that represents a watchdog association that has revealed his misuse of a county vehicle (he gave it up after the Star-Ledger picked up on the story), and pointed out how many relatives he and other officials have on the county payroll. And I still haven’t gotten around to blogging about how Sullivan played free golf with his three buddies at Oak Ridge Golf course every Sunday for years and years costing about $200 a pop, all while bullying his way to reserving and blocking out the 8:30 am walk on time which is supposed to be open to all golfers.

I responded to Sullivan’s attack during my five minutes allotted to the public to speak, and he continually interrupted me like a 10 year-old would do to annoy their big sister. I protected my First Amendment rights as best I could before being removed from the meeting by a county police officer. I had to speak over Sullivan and I did manage to mention the lawsuit cost less than a freeholder’s part-time salary (Sullivan’s is $29,500) and their catered meetings of chicken, ribs, cheese cake, 18 flavor coffee machine…… Out the door I was thrown while county employees made comments and snickered as I passed them. How concerned can they actually be about the cost of lawsuits?

The Government Records Council met with the New Jersey Press Association recently. The lawsuit Renna vs. Union County has led to an open discussion about many promised policy changes regarding forms as well as other issues involving the public’s right to access their government records and the state’s education of clerk’s.

In a perfect democratic society government would be of, by and for the people; and open government would be a given. History has proven that a fight for liberty is never left won; therefore citizens must be ever vigilant in holding their government accountable. Few citizens realize how laws are enacted and changed; and how much of the burden has historically fallen on individuals to challenge bad laws, which lead to the betterment of our society as a whole.

When Union County insisted that citizens use their official form to obtain public records, rather than just asking for them in writing as the Open Public Records Act states, the Union County Watchdog Association took up the burden to challenge what we considered to be a bad law affecting record seekers across the State. The New Jersey Press Association, whose members include over 150 newspapers, soon joined us in our lawsuit.

On May 21, 2009 the Appellate Division of the NJ Superior Court ruled that people requesting access to government records under the OPRA are not required to obtain, fill out or submit government agencies’ official request forms. To be valid, the request need only be in writing, including letters, faxes and e-mails.

Think of all the government agencies we have in New Jersey. If you wanted to obtain the same record from each of our 566 municipalities you would have to first obtain 566 forms, fill them all out, and then submit them 566 times. Instead of just sending one email requesting the record copied to all 566 municipalities.

You couldn’t even rely on a form obtained previously. In the time it took to overturn this law, Union County changed their official OPRA form three times. Each time they insisted that the requester resubmit their requests on their “new official form”.

Since our inception in 2001 the UCWA has obtained records through the OPRA from the county and posted them on our website for free and easy public access. For this we’ve been decried as a nuisance by the county’s extensive office of Public Information in many articles through the years. Besides the name of this department what is also ironic is that with all our digging for public information we haven’t been able to ascertain just how many county employees are on the payroll to dispense public information and we’ve recently suggested to the State’s Comptrollers Office that they institute guidelines so public payrolls could be more transparent.

Thousands of people visit www.UnionCountyWatchdog.org every month, proving that there is an interest and a need for these public records to flow freely and that they can easily be provided on the Internet.

If Union County posted these records on their site, the UCWA wouldn’t have to. How many other people wouldn’t have to place OPRA requests?

In a star-ledger article the county’s spokesperson stated, “The procedure worked well when used by thousands of people who received their requested public records.” Are the same records being requested over and over by multiple requestors? This spokesperson has contacted citizens who’ve placed OPRA’s and asked them why they wanted the information. It would take a lot less time and effort and would save tax dollars if the county simply posted public records on their website. But then many thousands more would find this information.

The county prefers for citizens to individually seek and obtain public records through a bureaucratic process, which they control and closely monitor. A process which employees dozens of people, many of which we are told are on the payroll to provide the public with information.

______________
Tina Renna is the President of the Union County Watchdog Association (www.unioncountywatchdog.org) she can be reached at tinarenna@unioncountywatchdog.org or 908-418-5586

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Tina Renna, President
Union County Watchdog Association
tinarenna@unioncountywatchdog.org
908-418-5586

The Union County payroll list is less than transparent. It’s impossible to tell what employee’s are assigned to do; therefore the public can never know if an employee is in fact doing their job. More importantly, there is no accounting of county employee resources.

With municipalities being forced to send Rice notices to public safety employees and the county outsourcing their engineering department, it’s astonishing that the county can get away with not having to account to the public for their 3,093 positions which cost approximately 170-million tax-dollars annually.

On the Union County payroll list Civil Service titles and internal titles often give two different perceptions of what a county employee’s job duties are. These titles also don’t match up to titles found on internal emails, memos, press releases, resolutions, etc. It’s beyond a citizen’s scope to sort it all out.

I have argued for years now that it is a deception to the public as well as a corrupt waste of our tax dollars to have an extensive office of public information which is charged with turning out press releases and putting a happy face on county government. Union County is spending more on this “public service” than any other county, and it’s more than a little ironic that you can’t tell exactly how many employees fall under the guise of providing “public information”.

For instance, during the last freeholder meeting I was surprised to find out we had an “Assistant Public Information Director” when employee Wayne Avery was given a laudatory resolution which listed his title. Avery was hired in 2003 and currently earns $65,168; he is listed on the employee list as a “Confidential Assistant” in the Administrative Services Department.

His superior, I can only presume, would be the Public Information Director, Sebastian D’Elia who is also listed as a “Confidential Assistant with the title Public Information Director” however; he is listed in a different department, the Clerk of the Board’s Office. Salary $111,420.

I’ve asked for job descriptions for employees in the past, there is no internal job descriptions kept by Union County. Instead I am always referred to the State’s Civil Service Commission website where you are told: You are reading our New Jersey Department of Personnel Job Descriptions used to describe groups of jobs with similar characteristics. The examples of work for this title are for Illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

In November 2008 Editor & Reporter magazine reported that at least 16 reporters and newsroom staffers at The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., most of whom left the paper in the past year’s massive buyout, are now working for public officials or state agencies the paper covers.

Two of these reporters landed on Union County’s payroll. Editor & Reporter listed them as:

John Holl, a former reporter who is a “spokesman for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office”; however, the county payroll list offers this information on Holl: Civil Service Title: Clrk to Constit Off G18.5, Prosecutor, salary 70,000, hired 6/21/08, Job Title: Clerk to County Constitutional Officer

The other reporter hired by Union County is Gabriel Gluck Union County director of public policy and community outreach. Civil Service title: Conf Asst G20.5, County Manager salary 91,856, hired 1/10/09.

Tina Casey is often quoted in articles with the title “county spokesperson”, on the county payroll she is listed as an information assistant Clerk typist (info assistant), salary, $41,200. Employees that process OPRA requests are also listed as info assistants.

James Lowney is a county photographer who takes photos for press releases, on the county payroll he is listed as Clerk / Public Relations, salary $60,568.

Thomas Plante writes press releases, on the county payroll he is listed as Clerk / Public Relations, 73,351.

Karen Positan’s job title is Assistant to public information officer in the Prosecutors Office; however, there is no title of public information officer in the Prosecutors Office on the county payroll list so I’ll have to assume there is one, we just can’t know who it is, and more importantly – how many there are.

Rahway Councilman Robert Rachlin was hired in 2001 and assigned to Runnells Hospital. He is listed on the county payroll as Public Information Assistant, Typing, salary $51,135.38. He is making $2,665.73 more than 20 year employee Norma Sheld who is listed on the county payroll as working for the Clerk of the Board (department located in Elizabeth) title: Newspaper Editor. In an email document obtained through OPRA her title is: Marketing & Public Relations, Runnells Specialized Hospital (located in Berkeley Heights). Her salary is $48,569.65.

Margaret Salisbury was hired in 1988 and is listed on the payroll as a Prgm Dev Spclst / Comm Svc. Runnells Hospital. However, she is listed as a Marketing Director in articles and press releases. Her salary 88,523.35.

There are also funky things going on with seasonal employees. County golf course employees were paid through the Open Space Trust Fund. In her lawsuit, which is ongoing, former county employee Catherine Alexander alleges the county has sham seasonal hiring practices.

The President of the Union County Alliance, Michael Murray, has been seen on and off the county payroll through the years, even though the county insists the Alliance is an independent non-profit and not subject to the Open Public Records Laws. The Director of the Union County Improvement Authority has also been seen on and off the county payroll. I’ve personally never seen her at 10 Cherry Street on my visits there, presumably where the Improvement Authority’s offices are located.

You may be astonished to know, no show/low show jobs aren’t necessarily against the law in this state. If there is no contract which delineates what an employees actual hours are to be, and where they are to perform their jobs, then it isn’t against the law for an employee to work from their dining room table at home. It’s quality of work not quantity I’ve been told by the State Attorney General’s office.

Just as every citizen is held accountable to their bosses and clients, every public employee should be accounted for as well as held accountable for their jobs. Government bodies should have a full and accurate accounting of human resources available for inspection by the public.

I am respectfully requesting that the State Comptrollers office come up with guidelines with the goal being transparency to be put in place statewide. Overburdened taxpayers, including public employees that are losing their jobs and private companies facing layoffs and salary cuts, deserve no less.

Union County Payroll list obtained via the OPRA 4.14.09

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.

According to the Westfield Leader the county budget hearings will start this Saturday. There is no information about the budget hearings on the county’s website under their extensive fluff press release section or on their county calendar. Incidentally freeholder meetings aren’t posted on their calendar either. A citizen has to feel left out.

The county has proposed to do away with the entire engineering department, and funnel this work through contractors, and to close down a golf course, in an effort to save some money yet they still support an extensive Public Information department, something that most counties do without. Despite a hiring freeze, that no-one is quite sure when it actually went into effect, the county added Star-Ledger Reporter Gabe Gluck a few weeks ago to the payroll.

All spin and no real information is propaganda and the county has an endless pot of our tax dollars devoted to this.

The Union County Watchdog Association has fought to have these budget hearings taped and we purchase copies from the county and upload them to the Internet for free public access. There is no public participation at the budget hearings, no questions are answered and public comment isn’t allowed. It amounts to each department delivering an infomercial to the freeholders because they are required by law to do so.

Public Budget Meetings
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Fiscal Affairs Committee has scheduled meetings to discuss the proposed $449.3-million budget. That comes to spending $1,370,000.00 per day every day including Sunday and holidays. The meetings are open to the public; however there is no public participation. Questions are not answered and there is no public comment.

The meetings will be held in the Freeholder Conference Room, 6th floor of the administration building in Elizabeth.

On Saturday, February 21, the department of parks and community renewal (they are responsible for the Musicfest and other concerts) will appear before the panel at 9 a.m. followed by the prosecutor’s office at 10 a.m., the surrogate’s office at 11 a.m. and the county clerk at 11:30 a.m. The human services department will present their budget at 5:30 p.m. followed by the department of corrections at 6:30 p.m., the department of public safety at 7 p.m., the county sheriff at 7:30 p.m. and the office of county counsel at 8 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 4, the engineering and public works department will be before the committee at 5:30 p.m. with the finance department following at 6:30 p.m., Runnells Specialized Hospital at 7 p.m. and the department of administrative services at 7:30 p.m.

The committee is chaired by Freeholder Angel Estrada and includes Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Vice-Chairman Daniel Sullivan and Rayland Van Blake. There are 9 freeholders who are paid approximately $30,000 for their part-time positions.