Choi’s requests tabled after many objections
Mayor-elect defends need for benefits, funds for transition team
BY ROCHELLE LAUREN GERSZBERG
Staff Writer

Mayor-elect Jun Choi’s request for a salary hike, health benefits and money for his new transition received a chilly reception at a recent Edison Township council meeting.

“If Mr. Choi wants a transition team, I am sure there is enough money left over in his war chest,” said resident Irene Wall at the Nov. 21 council meeting. “As a taxpayer, I do not want to pay for his transition team.”

Councilman Peter J. Barnes III asked who had put an ordinance on the agenda that would provide health benefits for Choi.

After a lengthy silence, Councilman Charles Tomaro said he had.

“It wasn’t just me that decided to put this on the agenda,” Tomaro told Barnes. “Several members on this council were in favor of this.”

Barnes asked that the health benefits issue be tabled until newly elected Councilwoman Antonia Ricigliano took office on Jan. 1.

“I think Ms. Ricigliano should have an opportunity to vote on this and consider this and discuss it in the agenda session,” he said. “I think it’s improper to vote on this in a lame-duck session.”

Barnes also asked if an initial discussion among several council members to raise Choi’s salary had gone any further.

“It’s no longer on the table,” Tomaro said.

Barnes also questioned Choi receiving health benefits since neither the mayor or council members receive them.

Mayor George Spadoro has served without health benefits for over the last 10 years, he said.

Health benefits were not mentioned during the mayoral campaign, Barnes said.

“I do not remember getting any flyers in my mailbox, saying that, ‘If I win, I am going to give myself health benefits,’ ” he said.

Choi came to the microphone during the public session, and defended his request for health benefits and funds for his transition team.

Choi said that both he and his opponent William Stephens had pledged to be a full-time mayor if elected.

“It requires basic support and resources,” he said. “This [health benefits] is a very reasonable step to take.”

Barnes and a number of residents also questioned another resolution to pay $12,500 for two weeks in December to Choi’s two-man transition team.

The team would use their municipal government and administration and finance experience to review documents, request information and provide the mayor-elect with staffing recommendations,” Business Administrator Jonathan Capp said.

The interim business administrator team consists of Marvin Corwick, a certified professional accountant, and Gregory Fehrenbach, a professional planner.

“I view them as an interim business administrator team who will provide management and financial consulting services,” Choi said. “This is a team who are financial experts in understanding how we can save money for the taxpayers.”

Choi said he wants his transitional team to stay for six to eight months, for a fee of $25,000 per month.

“We need to recruit more professional managers to serve our township and make sure our government is operating appropriately,” he told the council.

Resident Craig Prupis, who ran with Stephens on an Independent ticket, said Choi should pay for his own transition team instead of burdening Edison taxpayers.

Resident Bruce Diamond said the transitional team should “put their money where their mouth is” and work off of a contingency fee based on how much money they can save the town.

“I do not have a problem with Choi bringing in a transition team, but it should be at the cost of the candidate, not the taxpayer,” Stephens said. “Mr. Choi has the right to pay for any experts he chooses to.”

Wall was angry because the Edison Web site said that the council meeting begins at 7 p.m., and the council meeting really began at 6 p.m. and was almost over when she and many other residents arrived.

The council ultimately voted to table the discussion on health benefits.

Councilman Sal Pizzi made a motion to deny Choi’s request for a transition team because the proposal was only for payment for the month of December.

Barnes said if Choi feels that a transition team is necessary, it should be discussed in January.