Suburban Trends - Sunday, December 3, 2006
BY TIM FOX
Staff Writer,
The long-standing battle over whether Borough Council members should get health insurance paid for by the municipality is finally over. The council unanimously adopted an ordinance that prohibits the payment of health insurance benefits to any elected officials, part-time appointed officials and appointed professionals at its meeting on Nov. 28.
Deputy Mayor William Marsala and Councilwoman, Donna Andersen.are the only members still receiving health benefits and will continue to do so for an extra month through January 2007 something that has not gone unnoticed.
Although the ordinance passed unanimously, Councilwoman Wenke Taule added a bold suggestion.
"I think (Marsala and Anderson) should reimburse the borough for the month they will be taking," she said. Taule also said it was unfair for the two council members to rece"4ive benefits and take borough money while, in her view, trying to stonewall the Ringwood Highlands Festival.
The insurance issue has come under fire throughout the year as the council attempts to put together a budget for the 2007 fiscal year while working under the state's tight financial constraints.
One resident was particularly unhappy with Marsala's plea that he continue to receive benefits until he is able to find a personal insurance plan, which he made at a past meeting. The resident was also unhappy with Anderson's statement at a past meeting that she would look in every "nook and cranny" to cut unnecessary spending.
"Deputy Mayor Marsala, you recently defended your vote to continue receiving health care benefits," said Kathy McGinnis. "I think the speech you gave underscored how far you've strayed from your campaign promises. Apparently these funds were outside the 'nooks and crannies' that Donna Anderson promised to search and somehow mysteriously got lost in the pennies you were counting when you voted against funding the Highlands fair."
Several Highlands Festival Committee members asked for funding for next year's event. But because the council did not yet have the budgeting information for the coming year, it did not vote on funding the event.
The festival, which received a tremendous response from the residents this past year, should prove to be a topic of interest in the coming months as the council plans the 2007 budget.
Tim Fox's email address is
foxt@northjersey.com