Clarification

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Regarding yesterday's story about Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy hiring 53 new employees since his re-election May 12, city officials said yesterday that 17 of the 28 new police officers are funded by state Urban Enterprise Zone money, which pays for 80 percent of their first year's costs.

Three of the 28 officers have resigned, officials said yesterday.

Budget gap means salary losses but city gets 53 hires

Monday, October 05, 2009
By AMY SARA CLARK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Facing a $40 million budget gap and imposing mandatory furloughs on most municipal workers, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has nonetheless hired 53 full-time permanent city employees - the majority of them new police officers - since he was re-elected May 12.

Last week, the mayor confirmed the city will institute 12 mandatory furlough days for all city workers except those in the police and fire departments. The furloughs will result in those employees losing 9.2 percent of their salary from Dec. 24 through June 30.

But despite these drastic measures, city officials insist the new hires were needed. Healy spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said that except for 28 new police officers, all of the new hires are replacing people who left positions that are necessary, according to department directors. She also said every hire has been approved by the state.

Because Jersey City receives millions in aid from New Jersey, the state requires the city to obtain approval for all new hires. The Police Department hired 28 new police officers at starting salaries of $30, 675, two non-uniformed "information officers" for $27,000 a year each, and a student assistant at $25,000 a year.

Ward C Councilwoman Nidia Lopez also came on board after the last election at $33,430 a year, and five new City Council aides were hired at $15,000 a year.

The law department hired a new attorney for $90,000 a year, and the city hired a municipal prosecutor for $39,000 a year. In addition, one cashier and two clerks for the Municipal Court were hired at $27,000 a year and two court bailiffs came on board at $27,000 a year each.

Health and Human Services got a new nutritionist, but that person's $28,000-a-year salary is paid for by a grant.

In addition, six crossing guards were hired at $30,675 a year, an automotive worker for the Department of Public Works was hired at $48,000 a year and a computer technician for the city's police communications center was hired at $43,000 a year.

The count does not include seasonal temporary employees that are primarily hired for the recreation and parks departments for the summer months, Morrill said. These workers are paid hourly and do not receive benefits.