Vernon to establish finance committee

VERNON — The Vernon Township Council is expected to approve a committee to consider administering the township’s Performance Bonus Awards program.

Council President Brian Lynch and Councilman Dick Wetzel agreed to join a committee already made up of Mayor Victor Marotta, Business Administrator William Zuckerman and Chief Financial Officer Elke Yetter.

Over the last two years, Marotta has signed off on $100,000 worth of bonuses to non-union employees, both of which were challenged in court by the Vernon Taxpayers Association.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Weisenbeck ruled while the bonuses were improperly given in 2012 and 2013, Marotta and the township council members who approved them did not have to repay the money.

According to Marotta, the decision requires the township to name a five-person committee to review the employee evaluations. A resolution is expected to be brought forward at the Monday, Nov. 24, Township Council meeting to explicitly outline the committee’s responsibilities.

All non-union employees are eligible to be part of the program.

“All the employees eligible have gone through a thorough, written review, as has been the case for the last three years,” Marotta said. “They have sat with their division head, department head or immediate supervisor.”

If bonuses are awarded, Marotta said it would probably happen at the first meeting of December, scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8.

Marotta also told the council the township is expecting an estimated 20 percent increase in its insurance premiums, which he said could cost the township between $600,000 and $700,000 more than in 2014.

Marotta attributed some of the increase to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, but mostly to the township’s “experience with employees.” He said the township covers nearly 439 retired employees and 119 active employees.

“I don’t know if that will negate us doing what we’re talking about doing, but nonetheless it’s time for us to proceed,” Marotta said. “If it’s our decision there’s no bonus, then that’s our decision, but at least we will have the mechanism in place not only for this year, but for future years.”