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The most recent lie concerns the “$10.5 million in raises” alleged in a recent [newspaper] article. The actual amount is less than half, which represents a 2% pay raise at the top step only.
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan
This is the most fiscally sound contract negotiated with this bargaining unit in the history of the county. When presented with the facts by a more than hour long presentation, the Board of Chosen Freeholders quickly adopted the negotiated contract and are now undertaking an analysis to phase out the County Police Department, the duplicative law enforcement agency in the county.
The aforementioned presentation can be found at www.bcsd.us
As your Sheriff, I am abiding by the current law, NJSA 40A:9-117, which was confirmed by the Superior Court.
This law clearly states that the Sheriff shall set compensation, which is in complete compliance with the intent of the [L]egislature. This follows 25 years of precedent where the Sheriff has negotiated such contracts in Bergen County.
My administration has produced record lows in overtime hours and millions of real dollars cut from the budget. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers that we do not take lightly.
In contrast, the County Executive continues to pick fights with everyone.
This policy is costing the taxpayers millions in needless litigation. All the County Executive has to do is follow the law.
The County Executive’s statements about my office, I believe, were deliberately misleading.
(Donovan spokeswoman Jeanne Baratta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.)
RELATED:
State court upholds Donovan request for delay in Bergen sheriff’s contract
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A state appeals court has ordered a delay in the implementation of new contract for the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office until it can determine whether county Executive Kathleen Donovan had the right to be part of the negotiations. READ MORE….
EDITOR’S NOTE: A news release issued by Donovan’s office this afternoon (Friday, March 29) said that the state Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC) filed a motion in state Appellate Court supporting her right to bargain sheriff’s officers’ contracts. County Administrator Ed Trawinski said: “Clearly PERC is saying that this jurisdictional contract matter is of great importance to the taxpayers and to the State’s entire collective bargaining system.” (Trawinski is running the executive’s office while Donovan spends the next two weeks rehabilitating at a Rockland County hospital from stress fractures in her back.)
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Molinelli officially puts Bergen sheriff in charge of regional SWAT, splits K-9 duties
CVP EXCLUSIVE: As first reported here two months ago, a 2013 Law Enforcement Services Plan issued this morning by Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli officially gives county police four months to join a regional SWAT team that will be headed by the county sheriff, while giving both county agencies a month to implement a plan dividing specific K-9 duties. READ MORE….
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