Opponents fight moves to make N.J. mayor full-time, boost pay by $121K
FULL TIME #FULLTIME
A divided Wayne township council on Wednesday introduced an ordinance that would make part-time mayor Chris Vergano a full-time employee, a change that would boost his salary by more than 600% to $140,000.
The council voted 6 to 3 to introduce an amended ordinance that sets up a committee to work out the details of a full-time mayor’s position. The council was nearly unanimous in its praise for Vergano’s work ethic during four terms as part-time mayor, but divided on whether to make him full-time.
“Chris Vergano has been an exemplary leader for this township for 16 years,” Councilman David Varano said, adding that the mayor guided the township through the recession of 2009 and then the COVID-19 pandemic, and continued to build the ratable base. But Varano expressed the consensus opinion that he needed more information—a job description, and salary comparisons to other towns—before he would make a decision on whether to make the mayor full-time.
“As they say, ‘the devil is in the details,”’ Varano said.
Fran Ritter, the lone Democrat on council, opposed the introduction, and was joined by Republicans Joseph Scuralli and Al Sadowski. Ritter said the mayor’s position has always been part-time, and it’s unclear whether taxpayers would be getting enough value out of a 600% pay hike. Raising Vergano’s pay from $18,750 to $140,000 would also inflate his state pension, which is based on his salary in his final three years.
“What a difference a year makes,” she said. “When he stood for reelection last year, he knew it was a part-time job,” she said. “Now, he wants to change the terms of the deal.”
While there was no timetable set for the committee to complete its work, the ordinance could be up for a final reading as early as Jan. 18. Meanwhile, opponents have begun circulating a petition online at Change.org to let voters decide through a public referendum whether the township wants a full-time mayor.
Vergano, 63, took office in 2008 and is serving his fourth term. In 2021, he was treated for cancer, but won reelection with 70% of the vote. In a letter to residents posted on the Wayne township website, Vergano said he is remission and feels “better than ever.”
Vergano is planning to retire from his job as as executive at a plastics company in Lincoln Park. He spoke at Wednesday’s reorganization meeting, and made the case that the the township needs a full-time mayor.
“We’re an $87 million corporation and a part-time CEO,” he said, alluding to the size of the municipal budget. “The township deserves more than that.”
Vergano said his top priority would be luring development and redevelopment projects to the township. Day-to-day, he would work with the business administrator to run the town, he said.
“We need a leader to make sure everything is running smoothly,” he said. “I think we’ve reached a point in time where we need to move the town forward with a full-time mayor.”
At this point, it appears that Vergano has a majority in his favor. Among his allies are Franco Mazzei, who was reelected council president on Wednesday night and said he was “quite clear” that the township needed a a full-time mayor.
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Richard Cowen may be reached at rcowen@njadvancemedia.com.
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