Maher’s frustration extended to current expenses on Council’s agenda. He’s outraged that the administration accepted a bill for roughly $23,000 for helicopter lessons for members of the police department in 2011.
Of the $23,000, $15,000 was already paid last year. To pay off all the remaining tuition expenses for fire and police employees from 2011, including the remaining $8,000, Hary had proposed a budget transfer of $27,000 from the 2011 municipal budget from social security and postage funds into tuition payment for police and fire employees.
CFO Joanne Louth reminded Council that March 31 marks the end of the transfer period for last year’s budget. “If this is not acted upon tonight, the council will have to add this to the 2012 budget. One way or another it has to be paid,” Louth said.
Councilman Borek made a motion to pass the resolution, but nobody would second the motion. Maher then stated the prevailing sentiment.
“The very first time a helicopter bill came in you should have said this is ridiculous,” he said.
West Windsor Township does not own any helicopters, nor is the ability to pilot one something that could be considered police work. Therefore, Maher told Hary and other members of Council to fight paying the bill. However, Township Attorney Michael W. Herbert explained that tuition reimbursement was part of the police union’s contract with West Windsor, and a labor claim could be filed against the township.
“Then it should have gone to an arbitrator as soon as it came before council,” Maher said.
Hary added that there were two other tuition claims in the $27,000.
“If we don’t get approval to pay them they will go to arbitration as well. We would lose the arbitration and end up paying the costs for that,” he said.
“It’s not that we don’t share in your frustration, but the fact is that when an arbitrator rules he is judge and jury,” Hary said.
The warning didn’t convince anyone, but ultimately Linda Geevers suggested an amended amount of $19,000, minus the $8,000 to go towards reimbursement for helicopter lessons. The resolution passed.
