Mistakes Have Cost Gloucester City Residents Millions

Gloucester City, a community of 11, 484 has an operating budget of $16.5 million and $3.4 million water and sewer utility budget. There are 117 full-time employees, seven bargaining units including 31 full-time paid firemen, and 30 paid police employees.

The qualifications for the administrator listed on the City’s website require the applicant to have a minimum of five years experience in public administration or related experience. College degree preferred, strong communication skills, supervise day to day operations of the City and be able to work with governing body and employees.

After the James administration took control in 2007 a number of costly mistakes were found that occurred in 2005 and 2006. Kain has held the job for five years if not more.

Some examples:

· In 2006 the City loss $1 million in state and federal grants because of mismanagement of those applications.

·  $400,000 grant received in 2005 for a Senior Citizens Center was on the verge of expiring because it was mishandle by the administrator and past councilmembers.

· There was no signed agreement to develop the old Dooley property into a seafood restaurant. The City paid $425,000 for the building and then declared it was beyond repair and should be demolished. Demolition cost $35,000.

· The new Finance Chairman released information about the previous adminstration (s) mismangement of the City\’s $13 million Bond Debt. Just recently the bond debt was increased by $10 million to build a new water plant.

· E-Mailgate summer 2008. Kain sends an acid-tongue email to Councilman Nick Marchese. As a result of Kain’s temper tantrum sources say the construction of the new homes at Freedom Pier, first proposed in 2006, was delayed even further.

· Days ago a confidential source (CS) contacted this reporter with a tip about the Civil Service, the Fire Department and Kain that began in 2005.

 The CS said because of an oversight by the administrator the City was forced to hire an out-of-town resident for a fire department position. The CS says the City’s Civil Service list expired and he (Kain) then authorized the NJ Dept. of Personnel to certify the county list, thus giving permission to hire from a list with no residency requirements. As a result, the city then proceeded to hire seven \”provisional\” firefighters pending a test that was not yet scheduled and await the results of this \”future\” test.

The first of the \”provisional\” firefighters were employed in the spring of 2005, the test was held in December 2006.

The CS says one of the applicants from the county list has appealed this act by the City and a NJ DOP Merit Board hearing was held. The CS says the City was told to hire the top applicant from the Camden County Civil Service list (who lives outside of the City).

This decision has placed the City in a very vulnerable place; is this non-taxpayer due back pay from 2005? Does he need to obtain residency? Will the taxpayers be faced with this lawsuit? It is possible?

Needless to continue, my point is clear enough.

Mayor and Council must hire someone for this post that is not a relative, a personal friend, a member of the Democrat Club or the County Democrat Machine. A competent person, highly qualified; not one who is learning on the job. This persons\’ salary will be expensive but if he is proficient he should save the City money.

Besides the qualifications mention above my candidate would most definitely have a college degree in business management along with experience in municipal finances, labor relations, resource management, and economics.

Across the nation and here in Gloucester City the economy is failing. People are out of work. Retirees are losing their savings. Homes are in foreclosure. The 2009 Municipal Budget will need a person who is not afraid to make cutbacks. The norm of just increasing taxes and putting the burden of the City’s operation on the back of the taxpayers is over. New innovative ideas are needed. Surrounding communities can do it; so can we.

Mr. Kain will still have a job. He has tenure as Municipal Clerk. Salary is approximately $65,000 for 32.5 hours a week and includes full benefits. And he has his part-time job, one day a week, in another community that pays a salary of $14,000.

Let us hope there is no further delay in finding someone qualified to replace him.

We as taxpayers cannot afford it.

~ Bill Cleary

Pandemodium within City Police Force

Emailgate: The Memos City Officials Didn\’t Want you To See

Councilman Marchese Response to Emailgate

Millions of Dollars Wasted by Previous Administrations

Bills Point of View