Edison Council Passes 'Not to Exceed' Salary Ordinance O.2197-2023 by 4-0 - but has yet to disclose what these positions were currently paying

Well, not for nothing but as you can see from the previous post, there were 14 positions for which they wanted to raise the Max Salary. 

Now, don't really have an issue with a review of the current salaries to see if they're in line with the responsibilities of the positions. However, you'd think the first thing anyone on the Council would do when asked to consider raising the Max Salaries would be to ask how much we are currently paying for these 14 positions so they could have a basis to see if the increases make sense and the Public could be informed before they Vote.

Unfortunately, no-one on the Council did - I know, I asked. 

So, I made an OPRA Request on December 17, 2023 asking for the Names and Current Salaries for those 14 positions plus the 3 positions that were removed in this final Ordinance (Dir. of HR, BA and Cons. Code Official) so we would see if the proposed increases made sense before they Voted. 

Now, you would think that it shouldn't take 7 days to look up 17 salaries and provide that before the Council Voted on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. 

But, Unlucky for You and Me, they waited until the 7th Day at 4:03, a day after they already Voted to approve the Ordinance to send me the following:

 

Seems they need until January 11, 2024 to look up 17 names in their payroll system. I reminded them in response that the OPRA Request was for the Names & Current Salaries as of December 17, 2023, the date of the Request and Not on January 11, 2024 the date of their extension. That's so we can see what they were under the existing and applicable Salary Ordinance before they passed this one on December 27, 2023.

Can you Smell the Stench here? Why wouldn't they provide the current salaries for the positions they wanted to increase Max Salaries for before the Council Voted and why would the Council refuse to ask the Administration before they Voted? Either the Council couldn't or wouldn't provide that information before they Voted. Either way, doesn't make the Council look good.

You then have to ask - Why? Makes no sense and clearly signals that there may be a problem with the current salaries for some of these 14 positions (plus the other 3 that were removed) under the existing Ordinance and there was a rush to pass a new one before year-end.

Whatever the Council issues are for not pursuing the information they needed before they Voted, it Clearly demonstrates that the Council is nothing more that a Bunch of Enablers and Poor monitors of the purse strings in this town.

Anyhoo, this is what happens when you have No Checks & Balances in this Politically-corrupt town and You Keep Voting the Same People back in to do more of the same. 

Welcome to Edison, Home of the 2017 Racist Flyer.

Edison's 'Not to Exceed' Salaries again up for a Vote at tomorrow night's Combined Council Meeting

 Just saw the agenda for tomorrow night and here's the latest update to the 'Not to Exceed' Salary Range List which was reduced down to 14 from the Original 17:

Removed from the Original List:

• Dir, HR - Low $110k to High $195k (up from $175k)
• BA - Low $160k to High $240k (up from $230k)
• Cons. Code Official - Low $100k to High $180k (up from $160k)

Mayor's Salary - No High and Low is a Joke on You.

Here's the Original List:

Good thing Mayor Sam 'the Big Lie' Joshi has this Bunch of purse string protectors with eyes wide shut Voting to increase the 'Not to Exceed' Salaries' - since his 2023 Budget that claims of the first homeowner tax cut since since 1988 actually Exceeded that bogus claim by some 3%. And let's not even mention how the 2023 Total Property tax bills were Overstated by some $518,000 to boot.

Anyhoo, made an OPRA Request to see where the Current salaries for the Original 17 positions fall within these 'Not to Exceed' numbers up for a Vote. Haven't received a response as yet and, hopefully will receive one before they Vote tomorrow night.

Jerry Shi's Farewell Board of Ed Meeting and Doug 'the Barista' Schneider is obviously missing the 'Class' gene

 Well, watched the final meeting of the year for the Edison Board of Mythomania which also happened to be Jerry Shi and Mohin Patel's last meeting as Board Members.

Now clearly, I'm not a fan of Jerry Shi's 10-year tenure on the Board for all the reasons I've stated in this blog over the years. The best thing I can say about him is that he's gone but that's just my opinion as a Resident/taxpayer of his dismal presence, demeanor and performance over the years.

However, I'm not a Board Member and no matter how vehemently one Board Member may disagree with another Board Member, surely you can find something nice to say when someone's term is up.

Which brings me last night's meeting where all Board Members had an accolade or two to share about Mr. Shi - except for Doug 'the Barista' Schneider who couldn't find anything to say and sat there silently.

Seems Mr. Schneider doesn't follow the basic civility Rule to Never Rain on Anyone's Parade or Kick Them when They're Down and that's too Bad. Surely, he could have found something to say after so many years dishing dirt at each other in the political muck and mire that is now the Edison Board of EdDems.

But he didn't and that shows you the Class of the People You elect to the Board of EdDems and who they're serving.

Geez, even I can find something that Jerry Shi and I agree on - when Former Board Member Ralph Errico was complimenting Mr. Shi on their service together and he thanked Mr. Shi for letting him have that awful shade of Red Baseball field at EHS, even I agree with Mr. Shi that it's horrendous and, as I told Mr. Errico back then, for $1.5 million we should of at least gotten a Refund for that Eye-Blinding Shade of Red.

Anyway, here's the meeting:

Anyhoo, let's hope they select an 'Adult' to be the next Board of Mythomania, aka Board of EdDems, Board of Hoarders, Board of Dysfunction President come January - if they can find one.

Geez, hard to believe this town could be any more Politically Corrupt than it is now - but they're trying

 Well, just heard some disturbing news that the Council is now considering moving the School Board elections back to April. Looks like the School Board doesn't have enough votes on their own to make it happen, so somebody is bringing it to the Council.

Now, remember how that works - the School Board can do it, the Council could do it and it can be done by Public petition.

Now, don't get me wrong - it was a mistake moving it to November for the very reason you see today - the Boe is a Dem-party political mess, aka cesspool. The rationale was for greater voter turnout only meant greater turnout for the Dem-party, the only party in town. 

Not only did we turn the Boe over to the Dem-party but we gave up our right to Vote on Huge School Budgets (Now over some $350 million) with Out-of-Control and Misguided $pending and no effective Oversight.

There are a lot of reasons why we should move the School elections back to April but just because one-faction of the Dem-party doesn't like the results of the last election - isn't one of them. Particularly since Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi was finally Voted into Forced Retirement. There's someone you don't want to give an early opportunity to join the Board again.

Clearly, this isn't about what's Best for the School District, it's about which faction has Control over all that money in play.

So, let's get serious with this political maneuvering right after the recent Boe election - any attempts to move the School Board elections now should be looked upon with devious purposes and it should have to wait until 2025.

Seriously now, You clearly don't want this bunch below making decisions like this especially when they've got their own issues with oversight and checks & balances. And, not for nothing but who decided to put the township seal on the floor (and not on the wall behind the Council dais) where everyone walks all over it? That's a disturbing decision in itself.

Now don't see the Agenda for tonight's Regular Council Meeting posted yet on the website so don't know if it will show up tonight or not. But hey, there's still one more meeting left in December after Christmas.

Anyhoo, aren't you glad you live in Edison, Home of the 'Committee of the Hole' and now permanent Home of 2017 Racist Flyer?

Christmas in Downtown Edison – 2023

  

Christmas in Downtown Edison – 2023

 

Twas’ two weeks before Christmas and those sly little elves,

 ‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ & ‘Mr. Shi-shed’ labored hard to benefit themselves. 

One a neophyte who lied about his tax increase and the other his 9 yr. dismal presence,

with both Lacking Credibility & Trustworthiness since their Public service entrance.

 

One who Sneakily Hiked his Pay from $49K to $75K and to $150K the Council made easy,

and the other claiming a 3 yr. tax reduction while ignoring an Overstated School Tax Levy.

Not remotely caring a tad bit what the People might think, 

they again place Politics before People in spite of the lingering and now prolonged stink.

 

One has a Council that is Still in search of that 2017 Racist Flyer,

and the other doesn’t see his inept presence has left the Board of EdDems in utter mire.

If ‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ were seriously qualified to run this town,

then why is that 2017 Racist Flyer Stench Still Lingering and Bringing Edison down?   

 

One has a now $125k Day Care Provider to Keep the town from Running off the rails,

and the other allows solving the Overcrowding problem to again fail.

 

One is just a figurehead with his inept Stewardship lacking transparency and scrutiny,

now a town Outsourced to the County to the liking and pleasure of the Powers that be.

And the other hypocritically attacks a BoE candidate for ‘Conflicts’ on another slate,

when he had no problem with it when she was his 2020 Running mate.

 

And putting their thumbs to the tip of their noses while laughing at You and Me, 

‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ can’t hide his Malleable Marionette status in town for all to see.

And ‘Mr. Shi-shed’ with his Dem-party infested and corrupted Board of EdDems play, 

shows how his Board presence kept the school district from moving in the right way.

 

They’re not concerned about disrespecting the people of Edison on any given day, 

dubious transparency, misinformation, and cross-contamination is their ruling way. 

‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ should of Never been helped to bypass the Edison People to stay in play,

so he continues with Outside help who now rule over us in their misguided way.

 

So, while we all scratch our heads and say What’s Going On in this town,

‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ will be a Malleable Marionette for the Powers that be with a frown, 

And then there’s the Board of EdDems continuing to rule in their power control way, 

yet still can’t put forth a cohesive plan to solve the Overcrowding on any given day.

 

In this season of giving, ‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ & Mr. Shi-shed’ are Big Mistakes, 

‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ will be controlled by the County Powers that Be with all their usual takes.

And while ‘Mr. Shi-shed’ thankfully will be Removed from his Board role come January, 

we can all see that ‘Mr. Shrink-flation’ will be ‘One & Done’ with this Politically-corrupt weary.

 

If in this feeling I’m not alone, 

then take up your pen or pick up the phone. 

Let ‘Mr. Shrink-flation & Mr. Shi-shed’ know that it's People Not Politics, 

and You’re tired of all their disrespectful and self-serving tactics.

 

With one now reduced to Events Coordinator and the other finally booted-out across town, 

enjoy what you keep doing to yourself while on this Dem-party Merry Go Round.

 

And I heard him exclaim with ‘The Emperor Has No Clothes’ in hand, 

Merry Christmas to Edison and let all the People continue to be Spammed!?!

You Can't have a Council President who thinks he works for the Administration

 Well, time to send this guy packing come January 1st. It's been a long year watching this guy embarrass himself by stumbling over his own naiveté at every Council Meeting. 

Clearly, he doesn't recognize that it isn't his job to be pushing Mayor Sam 'Mr. Shrink-flation' Joshi's inept stewardship and agenda at Council Meetings. Not for Nothing but he works for the People of Edison and Not the Mayor.

Geez, Mr. Shrink-flation should just give him a job in the Administration and just get it over with and spare this guy the embarrassment at every Council Meeting.

Anyhoo, you'll never get true transparency and checks & balances as long as you have a Puppet doing another Puppet's work for him - all at Your expense, of course.