Vernon establishes bonus awards committee

VERNON — The Vernon Township Council on Monday approved the formation of a finance committee to determine non-union employee bonuses.

The resolution passed by a 3-2 decision with Councilman Dan Kadish and Councilwoman Jean Murphy voting against.

After Mayor Victor Marotta gave bonuses in 2012 and 2013 of about $100,000 over those two years, the township was sued by the Vernon Taxpayers Association. To be in accordance with a ruling made by Superior Court Judge Thomas Weisenbeck, a five-person committee must be established to review evaluations.

The resolution vote was originally scheduled for the canceled November 24th Council meeting. Whether bonuses will be given this year has not yet been determined. On November 10, Marotta told the Township Council that Vernon is expecting about a $700,000 increase in their insurance premiums, and that could affect whether bonuses are given in 2014.

The committee will consist of Marotta, Business Administrator William Zuckerman and Chief Financial Office Elke Yetter and two members of the Township Council. Council President Brian Lynch and Councilman Dick Wetzel agreed to be on the committee on Nov. 8.

Ambulance squad
Several members of the Vernon Ambulance Squad gathered to be honored at the meeting as the council and mayor honored the squad for its 50 years of service to Vernon Township.

“We are very fortunate,” Marotta said. “They are always ready to save lives.”