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Politics & Government

The Era of Free Benefits in West Deptford Ends

Township committee wiped out free health insurance for elected officials with a final vote and approved several road projects Thursday.

The West Deptford Township committee approved final adoption Thursday night of an ordinance that completely eliminates free health insurance benefits for elected officials and township employees.

The ordinance includes a new amendment to the township code, requiring all eligible employees to contribute to the cost of their health insurance–medical, dental and prescription drug coverage. The cost to each employee will vary according to the salary scale.

It also completely eliminates benefits for future elected officials, as well as current elected officials who have not already been vested under the old language. That version of the code allowed for lifetime benefits, as long as certain years-of-service requirements were met.

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An audience of about 50 sat quietly during the passing of the ordinance and during the opportunity for public comment, with the exception of township Republican chair Joann Priga.

Priga confronted Mayor Anna Docimo, who receives benefits from the township and is vested under the old version of the township code, about the ordinance, sparking a heated three-minute exchange in which the two talked over one another several times.

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“When do your benefits and Mr. Kilpatrick’s benefits stop?” Priga asked Docimo.

“Mr. Kilpatrick, I believe, is in the process of having them switched now,” Docimo said.

“You can get your benefits from the county—” Priga started.

“I still have to pay for them, whether they’re county or township, it doesn’t matter,” Docimo retorted. “What I said previously was we will definitely follow the guidelines of the state. Whatever the state put in place, we will follow—”

“But you’re not answering the question,” Priga interjected.

“I am going to answer your question,” Docimo said. “The governor recently signed this bill into law. I will continue to pay for my health benefits as I have the last year.”

“…Employees in this township have not gotten raises for years,” Docimo continued. “I’m hoping this evening that we’re able to pass our ordinance without issues, to give these people the raise they’re entitled to.”

At that, the audience burst into applause, but Priga wasn’t satisfied.

“I understand that, but we are in a complete deficit here in West Deptford of $142 million in debt, and it’s still rising,” Priga said.

“People all across this country, they’re losing their homes, and…are not getting raises,” Priga continued. “There are people in this township that are out of work and struggling just to make ends meet, and we have a bus driver in West Deptford that’s making $60,000 a year? It’s utterly ridiculous.”

“He’s been here for 30 years,” Docimo responded.

“It doesn’t matter,” Priga shot back. “Is he on a pay freeze now, mayor?”

“They’ve had no raise for the last four years,” Docimo said, referring to all township employees.

“The salaries in West Deptford are absolutely ridiculous,” Priga reiterated, to which members of the audience snickered. “I’m sorry if I’m getting heckled from this audience, but you have people in this township that are out of work and are struggling just to make ends meet and pay their taxes, and you have a list of people on any of the web sites and you can see their pay scale.

"It’s utterly ridiculous and I think something needs to be done about it.”

Docimo thanked Priga for her comments and Priga returned to her seat towards the back of the room.

The committee then unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to fix salary grades, positions, and ranges of township officials and employees, which includes salary increases for 2011. The second reading will be at the next meeting on Sept. 1.

Also approved were two resolutions to reconstruct Lewis Terrace and Garrett Avenue, and Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Laurel Avenues.

A bid of $116,092.31 was accepted from GWP Enterprises, Inc. for improvements to Lewis and Garrett. The township was awarded a DOT grant for $150,000, which township engineer Stan Bitgood said would cover 100-percent of the project costs.

A bid of $220,423.50 was accepted from S. Batata Construction, Inc. for reconstructive work on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Laurel Avenues. The cost will be alleviated by a $200,000 DOT grant.

Bitgood added that work to all five roads would start as early as September.

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