Some Millstone officials not open to salary cuts
BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer

MILLSTONE - Members of the governing body will continue to earn the same salaries that they have received for the past few years.

The Township Committee passed a new salary ordinance in a 3-1 vote at its Feb. 6 meeting. For 2008, the mayor will receive $7,321 and each committee person will receive $7,112.

Committeeman Elias Abilheira voted against the ordinance and Committeeman Steven Sico was absent.

Abilheira asked committee members if they had interest in reducing the annual salaries. He suggested limiting the salaries to about $1,600 each, which is the amount elected officials in Colts Neck receive.

Colts Neck has a population of 13,400. According to Millstone Municipal Clerk Maria Dellasala, the Monmouth County Planning Board estimated Millstone had a population of approximately 13,152 in 2005.

For comparison, neighboring Upper Freehold Township, which has a population of approximately 6,500, pays its mayor a $5,460 annual salary and each committee member a $4,956 annual salary, according toUpper Freehold TownshipAdministrator Barbara Bascom. In neighboring Roosevelt, which has a population of approximately 1,000, the mayor and council members receive no compensation.

Abilheira said that he would also like to put together an ordinance to eliminate health benefits for committee members.

CommitteemanMichael Kuczinski,who was appointed to the governing body last month after Ray Dilfanian resigned, said committee members are underpaid for the amount of work they do. However, he said that he would be OK with either maintaining the status quo or reducing the salaries.

Mayor Nancy Grbelja said the mayor's salary barely covers her expenses as a township official. She said she uses her own cell phone and gasoline to attend to township business.

Grbelja also added that she does not attend the annual League of Municipalities meeting in Atlantic City, which would be another township expense.

Grbelja told Abilheira that he could donate his salary to the township.

He replied, "I give a great deal ofmoney to the township. Not a problem."

The mayor said she would entertain an ordinance to eliminate health benefits for committee members.