From the get-go, the proposed salary increases have been met with opposition from some residents
TRENTON -- Trenton's City Council has decided to postpone a vote on giving themselves and the city's other top officials pay raises, amid lingering questions and concerns.
"Members of the governing body wanted to revisit their input into the salary ranges and how those numbers were derived," City Clerk Richard Kachmar said.
The votes on the two ordinances and resolution that had been planned for Thursday will now be pushed back until Oct. 20.
Under the administration's plan, the first ordinance would set salary ranges -- not actual pay -- for the mayor, business administrator, chief of staff, municipal judges, chief municipal judge, department directors and division directors.
The ranges would be effective from Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018.
Under a separate ordinance, City Council members are slated to receive 15 percent increases over three years: $22,500 for 2016, $22,750 for 2017 and $23,000 for 2018.
Another vote would then be taken on a resolution to set fixed salaries retroactive to Jan. 1 and through Dec. 31, 2016.
The salaries of the mayor would go from $126,460 to $130,253; the business administrator from $115,922 to $119,399; the chief of staff from $107,231 to $110,447; the municipal judges from $101,968 to $105,027; the chief municipal judge from $112,164 to $115,528; and the department directors from $105,384 to $108,543.
They represent a 3 percent increase over their current salaries -- or the equivalent of 1.5 percent raises for 2015 and 2016.
The salary ordinance was immediately met with public outcry since a memo that was included in City Council's Aug. 18 docket noted that the administration would be proposing pay raises of 15.5 percent over three years.
After residents began laying the groundwork for a petition effort, Mayor Eric Jackson took to the press two weeks later to clarify that his plan was only to ask for annual 1.5 percent increases.
Though council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance Aug. 18, some now have questions about the administration's proposal.
Councilwoman Phyllis Holly-Ward said Thursday that she, Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson and Councilman George Muschal were not privy to the process as the rest of council.
"We wanted to make sure that we had some input," she said. "Whether or not we'll support it, it is our job and responsibility as the check and balance to be aware of this process. As council members, our salary was in it and I had no idea who created the number."
They and the administration are also at odds over whether the chief of staff and division directors should be included in the salary ordinance and more time was needed to research the issue.
"We are happy to extend her the courtesy, including answering any and all questions that she may have," city spokesman Michael Walker said. "However, our reasoning remains the same: the modest salary increases that we have proposed are necessary to retain managerial employees and to make the salaries for these positions, which have not seen an increase since 2005, more competitive with other public sector entities."
Jackson previously told NJ Advance Media that he would never separate individual positions from the group ordinance.
"I'm responsible for all of the individuals that work for me," he said. "I'm the only person who can evaluate and then determine the salary once council ordains it and I can attest to you, without reservation, my cabinet and the staff named are working hard."
He added that doing so would deter prospective employees.
"I'm responsible for making sure we bring people to the table who are professional, experienced and can do this job," Jackson said. "That would stop me as a manager and a mayor from having the ability to recruit talented individuals because no talented person would ever step into a position where the prior guy was separated from the group and arbitrarily just not given an increase."
Council will resume its discussions on Oct. 18 before any formal action is taken Oct. 20.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.