BELLEVILLE –
After nearly a month on the job, Belleville’s new township manager learned how much he’ll be paid last Monday when the governing body approved his employment contract.
Under that agreement, Mauro Tucci – whose job title is listed as “interim township manager/Acting as CEO” – will be compensated at the rate of $139,500 a year.
Tucci will also receive 28 vacation days and he may carry over any unused vacation leave into the “next calendar year only.” He also is entitled to 15 days of sick leave and any accumulated unused sick days may be cashed in up to maximum of $15,000 as part of any terminal leave.
He also is granted an expense account for which no monetary amount has been set and he has the use of a municipal vehicle “to be used on a 24-hour basis.”
“At least once annually, and at least 30 days in advance of the introduction of the annual salary ordinance,” Tucci’s performance is to be reviewed by the governing body which must provide Tucci with a “written summary of its findings.”
No fixed number of hours are set for the new employee but he is expected to be available for “attending regular and special meetings of the governing body [and] attending meetings of various township boards and committees when required and attending to emergencies.”
Tucci may be terminated “at any time” by the governing body without any advance notice. At the same time, Tucci has the right to leave his job “at any time” during his term of employment.
Tucci, a Nutley resident, plans to continue serving as a Nutley township commission. He is up for re-election this year. He also runs a private pool/spa business in Nutley and he is listed as CEO/board member of the Belleville branch of the Northwest Essex Community Healthcare Network, a treatment center for people with substance abuse issues.
Tucci was hired as a replacement for Kevin Esposito, who resigned Jan. 12. Esposito, who also serves as township assessor, said he expected to spend a lot more time in that job as the result of an order by the Essex County Tax Board directing the township to conduct a revaluation of all properties.
In other business, the mayor and council voted to contract with three firms – CME Associates of Parlin, Finelli Consulting Engineers of North Washington and Maser Consulting of Red Bank – to provide general engineering services “as needed.”
The governing body also fixed Wednesday, Sept. 14, as the date for the township’s annual “Just A Party” celebration. The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. along Franklin Ave. between Joralemon St. and Continental Ave. It is funded by local business owners as a way of bringing the community together.
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