Politics & Government
Heights' Public Works Director to Get $6,255 Stipend
Council's GOP majority praises veteran employee Art Herner while awarding stipend for 2011
It's official: borough public works director Art Herner is entitled to receive a $6,255 stipend to be the town's recycling coordinator.
Herner has actually been doing the part-time job in addition to his full-time duties since Jan. 1 and has already received the stipend according to Acting Borough Clerk Janine Gillis. He will continue to lead the borough's recycling program until Dec. 31.
The borough council's 4-1 vote on Monday to formally appoint Herner as recycling coordinator legitimizes his position as well as the stipend, Gillis explained.
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Democratic Councilman John Brennan, Jr. cast the sole dissenting vote while all four GOP members agreed to Herner's appointment.
The motion to appoint Herner came just minutes after the council passed a $1.3 million bond ordinance to purchase numerous capital items including $620,790 worth of public works vehicles. The council will borrow $589,750 to be paid back over about 13 years to purchase the vehicles which make up the bulk of the bond ordinance.
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That bond ordinance also passed by 4-1 with Brennan protesting the expenses and the plan to borrow a total of $1.24 million as well for a list of big ticket items.
"I'm opposed to giving Art Herner a single penny more for this," Brennan said prior to the roll call on the recycling coordinator appointment.
Noting the sudden addition of the resolution appointing Herner to the night's agenda, Brennan motioned to table the resolution. His motion failed for the lack of a second.
The GOP members showered Herner with accolades.
"He deserves it," Councilman Gavino Maccinaco said.
Herner did a "great job" leading the public works employees's efforts during Hurricane Irene in late August and during the Dec. 26 blizzard that paralyzed the area said Councilman Richard Diver.
The stipend does not represent a salary increase at a time when the borough has frozen employee wages for calendar year 2011 said Councilwoman Patty Cindea, who chairs the finance committee.
In his secondary post, Herner will oversee disposal of glass, plastic, cardboard and newspapers at the borough's recycling center located at the public works yard at 555 Atlantic Avenue.
