Council to cap own salaries if ward issue passes in Nov.
Council would divide current amount by nine
BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer
The Edison Township Council adopted a resolution on Sept. 26 capping the amount budgeted for council salaries to $42,500 in the event that the ward referendum questions are successful this November.

Under the resolution, if the referendum for the ward system of government passes and two more seats are added to the dais, the salaries of those council members will be reduced from $6,000 per year to $4,600 per year.

But concerns were raised at the meeting that capping the salaries was more a political tool than a fiscal decision.

"I believe it is political posturing," Councilman Robert Diehl said. "It would eliminate one of the major objections and it lends itself to favor the ward system."

Opponents of the ward system have said that one of the major concerns would be a possible increase in municipal spending. That concern has been embodied in a $12,000 increase of the council's salary budget, to include $6,000 for the two new council members, expected if the ward system passes.

Diehl said that he thought the council should refrain from manipulating anything in regard to the ward question. By eliminating a major objection, Diehl felt it would give the wards a push that may not have been there before.

"This to me is nothing that the council should do unless we as a council say we are a pro-ward council," Diehl said.

Councilwoman Antonia Ricigliano, a strong supporter of the wards, rebuked the idea that the move was political, citing a desire to make the decision as uncomplicated as possible. She called the salary issue "a stumbling block."

"I didn't think it was a political statement," she said. "I thought it was a civic responsibility."

Councilman Anthony Massaro said that his support for the cap came "to clarify the situation and not have a major decision muddied by $12,000 in a $100 million budget."

Massaro said that he considered the idea "above board" and not politically motivated.

Four incumbent council members were denied a re-election bid in the June primary by a slate of candidates chosen by Mayor Jun Choi. All four nonreturning council members voted to curb council salaries and to put the ward question on the ballot.

Diehl said his objection is to the involvement of the council in ward issues when the council as a whole has not expressed a propensity for one form of government over another. The council, in Diehl's estimation, should remain neutral until they decide whether to publicly endorse the referendum or publicly denounce it.

The ward question has been put on the November ballot by the council and asks voters to consider changing the fundamental form of the Edison Township government.

The council, which at present time is composed of seven members chosen by the entire town, would, under wards, be composed of nine members, five chosen from different wards in the town and four atlarge members.

The ward proposal has much opposition, including Mayor Jun Choi, who was instrumental in having the ward question defeated when it appeared on the ballot four years ago.

Choi said he is still in opposition, believing it will lead to higher costs.

"Personally, I oppose the ward system for Edison because it will drive up costs, increase taxes and divide our community unnecessarily," Choi said. "That being said, I will respect the will of the voters."

The final vote was 6-1 in favor of capping the budget, and council President Charlie Tomaro said that he was voting yes to dispel what some have called rumors about the cost of the wards to the taxpayer.

"I like the statement it makes," Tomaro said, "because the word is out there that it will be more expensive."