Here is a draft of the proposed ordinance that laid out a defense of categorization of Kearny’s elected officials as full-time employees:
“The Mayor and each member of the [Town] Council are … declared to be full-time elective officers … inasmuch as [they]
• routinely attend the meetings of the governing body,
• prepare for each meeting by reviewing all matters on the agenda which is distributed to them on the weekend before the meeting,
• serve as chairperson of at least one of the following committees: Ordinance, Finance, Police, Fire, Water, Buildings, Licenses, Transportation, Lighting, Human Resources and Senior Citizens, Legislative, Beautification, Recreation and Insurance,
• serve also as Council Liaison to or member of, an agency, board or entity such as the following: the Board of Health, the Industrial Commission, the United Veterans Organization, the Library, the Museum, the Civil Rights Commission, the Board of Education, the Municipal Court, the Municipal Utilities Authority, the Emergency Squad, the Development Commission, Planning Board;
• they also serve as representatives of the Town of Kearny on other governmental bodies or non-profit organizations such as Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee, Kearny Economic Zone Development Corp., Municipal Alliance, North Hudson Community Action Corp. and North Hudson Council of Mayors;
• also regularly respond to the needs of their constituents which may arise at all hours of the day or night and usually require follow-up and supervision with one of the town professionals that may require meetings over days, weeks and sometimes even months;
• and, by virtue of their office, also customarily attend civil, ceremonial and recreational events such as parades, dedications [and] commemorations over the course of a year and various celebrations in the community, averaging more than 35 hours per week.
Notwithstanding the foregoing declaration …, the remuneration received by the Mayor and each member of the Council for their services as provided under N.J.S.A. 52:14-17.26 remains unchanged by this ordinance.”
