Politics & Government

Mayoral Salary Reduction Rejected by Council

Ordinance would have reduced Brick mayor's salary to $1

Brick's township council voted down an ordinance Tuesday night that would have reduced the mayor's salary to $1 and removed the possibility of the mayor collecting taxpayer-funded health benefits.

In a 4-3 vote, the council rejected the proposed ordinance on first reading after a drawn-out discussion that included Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis reading off a list of mayoral salaries in other large, suburban communities in New Jersey like Brick.

Acropolis said he has repeatedly proposed to council members over the past year, but went public with his opinion on the matter after what he saw as voters revolting against taxes in the November council election. Acropolis took criticism after keeping his salary as mayor after landing a job as the director of the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority last year.

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"From my point of view, I don't want to deal with it. I'll do it for a dollar," said Acropolis. "I never took this job for the money. The $104,000 I give up over the next two years, I do it willingly. I've put my proposals forth."

"Maybe this will start here in Brick Township and spread to other places as well," the mayor added.

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But some council members saw things differently.

"I believe that the $1 per year also may not be the correct number," said Councilman Dan Toth, after referencing the $52,000 figure. "There should be some middle ground. One should look at this ordinance as the position itself, and not the person."

Toth compared reducing the salary to poll taxes that once kept certain groups of people from voting or running for office.

"In our case, it would preclude any individual who is not particularly wealthy from running for this office," Toth said.

"I think $52,000 is not enough for this position," said Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni. "I recommend we go with a range. You don't have to pay the person the maximum. For someone to … spend the amount of time and effort to do the job the right way, $52,000 is not enough money for the person to do that."

Councilman Domenick Brando suggested holding off on the ordinance since the mayor has said he'll voluntarily give up his salary.

"Why are we making an ordinance for that, if he said he's already going to a dollar?" said Brando. "In two years, or six years, we may have a new mayor."

Some on the council supported passing the ordinance, however.

"He's willing to make this sacrifice and do that for the town, and I think that's what we should look at," said Councilman John Catalano. "And when a new mayor is in place, or a new council, if they want to increase that amount they can do it at that time."

"There was a feeling that the pay was way too high for the mayoral elected position, and I think it's time to make that step," said Councilman Michael Thulen. "The mayor has suggested it .. and I'm in favor of changing it, and letting the next group make their own decision."

When it came time to vote, Thulen, Catalano and Brando voted in favor of the ordinance while council members Ruthanne Scaturro, along with Sangiovanni, Toth and Councilman Brian DeLuca voted "no."

Acropolis said after the meeting that he plans on consulting the township attorney to find out how his salary can be waived. The current ordinance flatly calls for the mayor to be paid the specific, $52,000 salary, he said.


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