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Politics & Government

Bonuses for Health Dept. Employees End

Board of Health says practice is over for 2011

Ocean County’s has ended its long standing practice of giving financial rewards to employees who work an entire year without using sick or vacation time, but those who qualified for the awards in 2010 got paid from a $14,500 budget appropriation carried over in a reserve until April.

Democratic freeholder candidate Michele Rosen of Waretown questioned the county Board of Health about why, when a budget ending the awards program was introduced, the board approved awards for 2010.

The board approved the awards to 28 employees, 15 of them non-union workers, and 13 union members, on April 6.

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Rosen said she got an unsigned letter about the awards being granted despite the decision to end the program. That decision was prospective, starting this year, not retroactive, explained Board Chairman Jack Mallon. He said the program has been eliminated for non-union workers and during negotiations on union contracts this year it will end there, too.

Rosen claimed Public Health Coordinator Daniel Regenye and Director of Administration and Programs Victoria Miragliotta were among those receiving the awards.

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“She makes things up,’’ replied board member Robert Singer of Lakewood as Miragliotta exclaimed: “I did not get any money.’’

Miragliotta provided copies of the resolutions showing she was not on the list of employees. Regenye was on the list of those getting and award.

Rosen claimed there was no money in the 2011 budget for the awards.

CFO Mary McCarthy explained the money budgeted last year was carried forward in a “reserve for contingencies,’’ that was tapped to pay the awards.

 McCarthy was among those whose attendance entitled her to an award last year, according to the April 6 resolution.

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