"Rolls Royce" council harrasing Hoboken police chief on contract term, raise, bennies

Funny, how a part-time City Council that rewarded itself with a primo "Rolls Royce" health benefits package, that refused the City's Plan that the Mayor and his Directors take, will go to the mattresses over a $5K raise for Hoboken's Police Chief.   Note, rejecting the City's Health Plan forced taxpayers to pay 28% more (approx. $33K) that would have otherwise been saved. But nooooooo... the City's health bennies were not good enough for them. 

So, the Chief has asked for a small raise. What's the big deal?  In my opinion, the raise is symbolic. Chief Ferrante did not take his contractually guaranteed 1.5 percent raise in 2019 and did not ask for a raise in 2020. If he's asked now for a nominal raise, perhaps he would like acknowledgement that he's excelled at an extraordinarily difficult job of protecting the public and his own police force during this COVID-19 pandemic.  Recognition of a job well done is a morale-thing.

But this "Roll Royce" Council- some skip meetings, some visibly chomp on snacks during meetings- would rather nickel and dime a $5K raise in a $118M proposed budget. Aren't you curious which City Council members voted to reward themselves the premium expensive "Rolls Royce" health benefits plan, choosing to forgo a 28% cost reduction  for the plan that the Mayor takes?

They are Tiffanie Fisher, Ruben Ramos, Michael DeFusco, Mike Russo, Jen Giattino and Vanessa Falco.  Those same six members are the ones who voted to "recommend" a shortened contract, fewer vacations days, and disputed the $5K raise.

Councilwoman Fisher took the lead at the July 9 meeting, playing public instigator but this kind of political strategy is decided well before the meeting.  As s reported by Hudson County View:

“I’d like to make a recommendation to make a couple minor changes … one is to change the termination date from 2022 to 2021 and the second would be to decrease the increase from vacation [days] from 30 days to 25 days,”  

When Councilwoman Emily Jabbour responded that "Chief Ferrante does a phenomenal job and I would want to keep him on as long as possible for the terms that were originally negotiated"  Fisher replied:

“That’s just your position, I think some other people feel it should be a shorter term, potentially co-terminus with the mayor and … the increase in vacation [days] seems fairly high,” Fisher said back.  ["Rolls Royce" Fisher] also said that she, and others, believe it was the fiscally responsible thing to do while the city is still crunching numbers for a budget.

Capisce?

There is something seriously wrong with a council that plays political games with Hoboken's chief guardian of public safety.  The Hoboken Police Department and it's Chief are not door prizes to give out as political party favors.  There is no earthly reason to make the police Chief's contract "co-terminus" with the mayor's term of office.  Unless, of course a faction of political hacks plan to give that position out as a patronage prize, Hudson County Culture of Corruption-style.

That is how far Fisher and Giattino have fallen. That's how they roll, now.

So, what will happen tomorrow when the Chief's contract gets voted on?   In a letter to the City Council, Mayor Bhalla has urged them to vote for Chief Ferrante's 3-year contract.

Chief Ferrante is extremely well-liked and respected among all Hoboken demographics.  Changes under his tenure have been experienced citywide in safer streets, calmer bar crawls, and better relationships with the Hoboken community. (Yes, Storytime with the Hoboken Police on YouTube is up to Episode 24.   )

Oh, and Episode 24 is especially awesome, because Lieutenant Melissa Gigante is reading "Super Satya Saves the Day" by Hoboken author,  Raakhee Mirchandani.



I doubt Hoboken residents will support harassing Ferrante, an excellent public servant- a guy who loves his job and it shows.

We'll see what the Hoboken electorate thinks in 2021.