They Saved, We Suffer!

Received via snail mail.....May 7, 2008

Bill,

At the last couple of (Gloucester City) council meetings I’ve heard Councilman Brophy and other councilpersons tell the public that one of the budget problems the city is having is a $600,000 increase in police pensions. I am a police officer and it infuriates me when I see our political leaders intentionally misleading the public like this.”

There has been no increase in police pensions; the City is simply repaying a debt. They are in essence blaming the police officer for THEIR fiscal mismanagement when nothing could be farther from the truth.

Our current political leaders are not to blame for the problem but they sure as hell are to blame for the way they are handling it. They are turning the public against the police officers and using that to their advantage in current contract negotiations.

Other towns are laying off officers because of this.

The article attached explains everything and you can find it on the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association (PBA) website. www.njspba.com. There are also contacts on that website you could reach out to for further verification if you wished.

I would like to know what Gloucester City did with all the money they did not contribute to the pension system for all those years. At least I would like to see our City leaders step up and accept responsibility for the fact that it was the City’s mismanagement of funds that led to this problem and not any increase in police officer’s pensions.

I know this isn’t a big deal to most people but it is to me and all other police officers in this state. I can’t get any answers but I thought maybe you could make it public.

You obviously have the juice to get answers and I like your style. You do a great job with your site and, as a city resident; I enjoy being informed so quickly.

I know it not a big story but whatever you can do, I sincerely appreciate.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Cop...............................

NOTE FROM BILL: I forwarded a copy of this letter to each member of council asking if they would like to respond.  Stay tune;  I will update the story as more information is received.

Related: Blue Line 

FROM THE DESK OF ROB NIXON

 

PFRS Pension Holidays and Local Governments - “They Saved, We Suffer”

 

From 1998 to 2007, local governments were given an unprecedented and lucrative opportunity to skip or reduce their required payments into the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS).  At the height of the Pension Holiday from 2001 to 2004, local governments contributed only 12% of their required PFRS pension and ERI contributions.  This lack of funding not only crippled the health of the PFRS today but also has placed local governments in the situation of having to make up for this reckless practice now, much like the person who overspends on a credit card and who regrets it only when the bill arrives.             click here for the full report

Comments

[Police supporter]

Concerned Cop,

I watch the council meetings on Channel 19. I do remember Mr. Brophy speaking about the budget problems at the March council meeting and one of the reasons he stated was because of a $600,000 increase in police pension payments. That's not an exact quote and maybe he did say $500,000 instead of $600,000 but I'm pretty sure he said $600,000. I took that as meaning our police were getting a $600,000 increase in their pensions. I don't think that meeting is on Channel 19 anymore but they do have to maintain transcripts of every meeting which are open to the public. Now I read this article and it, for the lack of a better vocabulary, pisses me off. I have nothing against our police officers at all but when I thought they were getting a $600,000 increase in their pensions, I thought it was wrong considering the, so called, financial situation of our city. Now, come to find out, that's not the situation at all. I also admit I don't know much about their pension system but their contribution is 8.5 percent! That's double what the teachers and all other public employees contribute in this state. These politicians should be ashamed of themsleves for leading everyone to believe it is the police pension systems fault for this $600,000 payment. They did not come out and blame the police outright but they sure led averone to believe so. Typical political spin move. What also suprises me is that Mr. Brophy is a union man. Whatever union he is a member of should throw him out for such anti-union, political crap. The mayor and councilmen should clear this up immediately. The lame response the mayor submitted means nothing.

To "A Concerned Cop," keep up the good work and make sure you and yours stay out of the politics and be the better men. Somebody has to.

Concerned Cop
Would you or anyone else consider the notion that the City Administrator is the FULL TIME leader of the city. The Mayor and Council are the taxpayers representatives selected to see that laws, rules and mandated policies are carried out. So let's cut through the political wrangling and address the problem.

When Pat Keating was administrator we saw the last qualified person in that position. Problem was he would not oppose the Gorman-Kain family and demand that department heads do their jobs. He had a Gorman over him and a mass of Gormans and Kains under him. This was so pervasive that the mass covered all departments and all levels of positions. From the courts to public works to the central administration. Consequently Pat leaned back in his chair put his feet on the desk and responded to complaints of ineffectiveness by saying his bosses (Mayor and Council) were tying his hands. He would also acknowledge that they were carrying out the democrat club agenda.

Debbie Fourre was an absolute waste of time as an administrator. She never made decisions on her own. She never took charge of any situation. She acted as a moderator and facilitator not as a leader. The best thing she did for Gloucester City was to accept a higher paying job in Washington Township. Unfortunately during her tenure she was so busy trying to learn what an administrator should do that she was unable lead, teach or evaluate her subordinate department heads.

Along comes a group who appears to recognize and understand the problem to be the democrat club control and agenda. They voiced this and soundly defeated the club candidates. And with an apparent stroke of luck took control of council. Then for unexplained reasons the new administration appeared to abandon their supporters and joined the democrat club. They did not take control of the democrat club but seem to be subordinate to it. Separation is necessary to avoid the apparent conflict of interest if not for any other reason. They were elected on the promise to "clean house".

The sweeping changes consisted of replacing the mayors confidential secretary with their campaign director who appears to be doing administrator type functions. Looking at council from a taxpayer viewpoint, the most senior member in all the years on council has spoken fewer words than you wrote in you complaint letter. He does have knowledge and experience of the fire department but never offers it publicly. A junior member, and I'll arbitrarely select Mrs. Ferry, was hand picked by the mayor but never offered an explanation of what attributes she posseses that qualified her to make decisions on matters/concerns such as yours. Recognizing that all other members fall somewhere in between, who do we rely on to see that matters such as this are handled pro-actively? How about a knowledgeable/qualified ADMINISTRATOR and his subordinate chief financial officer?

Let's get with it folks, this is not a game to be played in the school yard. And the money being handled is not chump change. Mayor and Council are not supposed to do the administrator's job for him nor are they obligated to tell him how or when to do his job. If he is not an embarrassment to your administration explain why not. Better yet show us why not. Your short tenure in office is not justification for the lack of performance of an administrative system that has been in place for more than 20 years with the same people in the same department.

Concerned Cop Supporter