The Alternative Press

When changes were made in the Fire Prevention Department, many of us were astonished by the audacity of the mayor firing two, long time employees who were Vernon residents and firemen, without cause and in violation of civil service laws. They worked part time with no benefits and never totaled more than $58,000 a year, combined. They were replaced with a full time employee from Hackettstown, who was given benefits and a commuter SUV- all expenses paid. He works 4 days a week for $59,000 plus benefits- an approximate cost to Vernon taxpayers of about $90,000. The mayor insisted we were saving money because the former full time secretary in that office had retired and she was not replaced. It wasn’t long before the new full time employee needed help, so the mayor hired an additional employee in that department- part time. So now we are paying about $115,000 total. The mayor’s longtime friend, Councilman Rizutto, assisted the mayor in pedaling the nonsense that we continued to save money. Neither the mayor, nor Rizutto, want the public to know that the mayor had hired three full time “floaters” to float around the building to work where needed and are now helping in the department, adding even more to the cost.