Council Votes to Raise Attorney's Salary
Councilor Renee Baskerville cited 'economic times' as the reason she voted against the increase.
The Montclair Council voted Tuesday to give the township attorney a pay raise, bumping his salary from $86,000 to $125,000. Township attorney Ira Karasick will see at 45 percent increase in his salary. The ordinance passed with only Councilor Renee Baskerville voting against it. Citing cost savings in the legal department, Mayor Robert Jackson said the township has brought more work in-house which has decreased the department’s expenses from up to $600,000 in previous years to below $300,000. “Overall, I think the notion of bringing services inside is a good idea,” said Jackson, “because we save a lot of money.” The additional legal services Karasick has provided the township outside the scope of his original contract, such as handling…
I'd-Rather-Be-at-63
8:11 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
The Town Council should have done the research before agreeing to a 45% raise for a part-time public employee. The very simple, transparent and responsible way to have done this would have been for the Town Council to advertise the position. There are many highly competent and experienced lawyers who would be happy to have a part-time position for $125,000. The concern as to the independence and … more ›