Pepitone Just Does Not Get It
At the May 7, 2019 meeting, an ordinance was introduced by
Mr. Pepitone to increase the number of lieutenants and sergeants in the police
department. The question is why. According to Mr. Pepitone it will look cleaner
in the ordinance book as this ordinance has been changed 6 times since
2011. Now what will this ordinance
really do? It will allow the chief of police to promote more officers to
superior officers. This at a time when Millville needs more police on the
street not more officers doing administrative duty. If Chief Farabella fills
all those administration positions it will once again cost the taxpayers and
not leave enough money in the budget for the officers who are sorely underpaid.
Farabella has already proven that he is not concerned about his officers or the
taxpayers when he renegotiated his recently signed contract that was less than
a year old. Pepitone thought this was a good idea.
At the meeting, when the other commissioners questioned the
need and cost of increasing administrative officers, Pepitone stated it is his
department and you are coming in my lane. Pepitone then went on to state he is
a good manager. Pepitone has proven that he cannot manage his own funds (see
previous blogs on his failure to pay his own taxes) and now Pepitone is
mismanaging the police department budget. Farabella said that the number of
administrators in the police department should not be explained to the public.
Why? What is he hiding? The public pays the salaries.
Pepitone went on to say that there could be no promotions
without commission approval. Not True. The chief can use the money in his
budget for the promotions and forego having more police on the streets.
Only Commissioner Udalovas voted no citing budgetary
concerns. Mr. Santiago once again did his old trick of arguing against the
ordinance but then voting for it. Someday maybe he will stick to his guns and
protect the taxpayer.
The second reading of this ordinance is at the May 21, 2019
meeting. Let your commissioners know this will cost the taxpayer and will not
decrease crime in Millville. Come to the meeting and voice your opinion.
Comments
the election again.