Gloucester City, a community of 11, 484 has an operating budget of $16.5 million and $3.4 million water and sewer utility budget. There are 117 full-time employees, seven bargaining units including 31 full-time paid firemen, and 30 paid police employees.

The qualifications for the administrator listed on the City’s website require the applicant to have a minimum of five years experience in public administration or related experience. College degree preferred, strong communication skills, supervise day to day operations of the City and be able to work with governing body and employees.

After the James administration took control in 2007 a number of costly mistakes were found that occurred in 2005 and 2006. Kain has held the job for five years if not more.

Some examples:

· In 2006 the City loss $1 million in state and federal grants because of mismanagement of those applications.

·  $400,000 grant received in 2005 for a Senior Citizens Center was on the verge of expiring because it was mishandle by the administrator and past councilmembers.

· There was no signed agreement to develop the old Dooley property into a seafood restaurant. The City paid $425,000 for the building and then declared it was beyond repair and should be demolished. Demolition cost $35,000.

· The new Finance Chairman released information about the previous adminstration (s) mismangement of the City\’s $13 million Bond Debt. Just recently the bond debt was increased by $10 million to build a new water plant.

· E-Mailgate summer 2008. Kain sends an acid-tongue email to Councilman Nick Marchese. As a result of Kain’s temper tantrum sources say the construction of the new homes at Freedom Pier, first proposed in 2006, was delayed even further.

· Days ago a confidential source (CS) contacted this reporter with a tip about the Civil Service, the Fire Department and Kain that began in 2005.

 The CS said because of an oversight by the administrator the City was forced to hire an out-of-town resident for a fire department position. The CS says the City’s Civil Service list expired and he (Kain) then authorized the NJ Dept. of Personnel to certify the county list, thus giving permission to hire from a list with no residency requirements. As a result, the city then proceeded to hire seven \”provisional\” firefighters pending a test that was not yet scheduled and await the results of this \”future\” test.

The first of the \”provisional\” firefighters were employed in the spring of 2005, the test was held in December 2006.

The CS says one of the applicants from the county list has appealed this act by the City and a NJ DOP Merit Board hearing was held. The CS says the City was told to hire the top applicant from the Camden County Civil Service list (who lives outside of the City).

This decision has placed the City in a very vulnerable place; is this non-taxpayer due back pay from 2005? Does he need to obtain residency? Will the taxpayers be faced with this lawsuit? It is possible?

Needless to continue, my point is clear enough.

Mayor and Council must hire someone for this post that is not a relative, a personal friend, a member of the Democrat Club or the County Democrat Machine. A competent person, highly qualified; not one who is learning on the job. This persons\’ salary will be expensive but if he is proficient he should save the City money.

Besides the qualifications mention above my candidate would most definitely have a college degree in business management along with experience in municipal finances, labor relations, resource management, and economics.

Across the nation and here in Gloucester City the economy is failing. People are out of work. Retirees are losing their savings. Homes are in foreclosure. The 2009 Municipal Budget will need a person who is not afraid to make cutbacks. The norm of just increasing taxes and putting the burden of the City’s operation on the back of the taxpayers is over. New innovative ideas are needed. Surrounding communities can do it; so can we.

Mr. Kain will still have a job. He has tenure as Municipal Clerk. Salary is approximately $65,000 for 32.5 hours a week and includes full benefits. And he has his part-time job, one day a week, in another community that pays a salary of $14,000.

Let us hope there is no further delay in finding someone qualified to replace him.

We as taxpayers cannot afford it.

~ Bill Cleary

Pandemodium within City Police Force

Emailgate: The Memos City Officials Didn\’t Want you To See

Councilman Marchese Response to Emailgate

Millions of Dollars Wasted by Previous Administrations

Bills Point of View

 A resolution was read appointing Marie Darlington as Acting Borough Clerk and appointing Ethel Hartman as Deputy Borough Clerk effective Monday, November 10. Acting Borough Clerk Richard Schwab’s last day was Friday, November 7^th.

 Another resolution was read to enter into an extraordinary, unspecified services agreement with Richard Schwab, First Jersey Municipal Assistance, L.L.C. for consulting services to carry out the day-to-day operations including, but not limited to, supporting existing borough personnel and assisting with the completion of several important tasks. The maximum amount of the contract in question is $20,000. The borough needs these professional services due to the vacancy of a certified Borough Clerk. By law the borough must have one in place for 2009. The borough does not have to seek competitive bids due to a Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1, but must be publicly advertised and the contract itself must be available for public inspection.

An ordinance was read and passed introducing a new Chapter 61- Certificate of Continued Occupancy, requiring inspections and issuance of certificates of continued occupancy upon change in ownership of residential premises due to sale.

Speed humps were successfully installed on 4^th Avenue. Some feed back has been negative but the majority of the residents have welcomed the new safety change with open arms.

Commissioner Greenwald reported the Department of Public Works collected a total of 62,340 lbs. of recycling and collected 207.95 tons of trash for the month.

The Celebrations Committee will be holding a Lunch with Santa on Saturday, December 6 at the MEPRI Banquet Hall on Kings Highway from 12 noon to 2 pm. The lunch will cost $4.00 per child that will include a hot dog, drink and an activity. Extra hot dogs will be $1.00 each.

The town-wide Christmas House Decorating contest will be announced on December 13 at the Christmas Parade. The deadline to enter is the December 11^th. Registration forms are available at the borough hall and the on celebration committee website.

Marie Darlington on behalf of the borough hall staff wanted to thank Richard Schwab for his assistance to the boro. She stated that \”it has been a true pleasure working with Richard and that he has been very effective at making everyone informed.\” \”Thank you for a job well done.\” All of the Board of Commissioners echoed Marie’s comments and wanted to thank Richard for his professional services to the borough over the past several months as Acting Borough Clerk and wanted to congratulate Marie on her new position.

All of the commissioners wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season from their family’s to ours.

The next Board of trustee meeting will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2008 at the Boro Hall Meeting room at 8:00 pm.