State denies Ewing's request

for new township employees

Thursday, December 14, 2006
BY LISA CORYELL

EWING -- The state department overseeing Ewing's finances denied the town's
appeal Tuesday to hire six new township employees but relented on other personnel
requests.

In a reversal of a decision last week, the state Department of Community Affairs will
allow Ewing to hire an animal control officer and a court security officer and to
promote 15 employees.

But the state stood firm on its ruling that Ewing could not hire five laborers and a
township construction code official.

"We do not have sufficient information to determine the need for these positions and
Ewing's ability to pay on an ongoing basis without state support," Susan Jacobucci,
director of Local Government Services, wrote in a decision faxed to the township
Tuesday.

The state has been overseeing Ewing's finances since last spring when budget woes
prompted the township to seek $4.5 million in state aid to distressed cities.

Township Business Administrator Jim McManimon would not comment on the ruling.

Under the ruling, Ewing can promote 11 laborers to heavy laborer titles, which carry
pay raises of $1,028. The township also can promote and give $500 raises to four
employees who recently passed civil service tests for new titles.

The township also can hire an animal control officer at $34,000 a year and a part-
time court security officer at $17 an hour.

The ruling marks the end of a political firestorm that engulfed outgoing Mayor
Wendell Pribila during his last weeks in office.

Mayor-elect Jack Ball asked Pribila to leave open any vacant positions in the
township, and Ball said he would consider leaving positions unfilled to save money.
Ball specifically asked Pribila to leave open five laborer positions that paid $34,000 a
year. On Dec. 5, Pribila submitted to the DCA 23 requests for hires and transfers,
including the five laborers.

Ball could not be reached for comment, but last week said that although he was
against the new hires, he supported the promotions and pay raises proposed for
current employees.

Contact Lisa Coryell at lcoryell@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5709.