Committeeman: Twp. Engineer Gets Paid Too Much

The Washington Township Committee will begin pay rate talks with town engineer Leon Hall after a lengthy discussion–and differences of opinions–at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 17.

Hall, a member of Denzler & Associates Engineering Firm, has been Washington Township’s engineer for 20 years. His hourly pay rate of $140 in 2010 was an increase of 18 percent from 2009. The township paid $14,972 to Hall in 2010 for his services.

Hall is looking to keep his current hourly rate, but Committeeman Dave Kennedy said the township might be able to negotiate a better hourly figure and save the taxpayers money.

“In this economic climate,” Kennedy said, “we need to get the best bang for our buck, and I’m not sure we’re doing that right now.” Kennedy said many of the Morris County municipalities he researched are paying their engineers $120 per hour.

Mayor Ken Short cited 22 northern New Jersey municipalities comparable to Washington Township, all of which spent more on their engineers than Hall earned in 2010. Short said that much of the savings comes in the form of Hall being contracted hourly, rather than a fulltime employee of the municipality.

Kennedy, who raised the subject at the , said that the potential savings of a lower rate–approximately $8,000–is enough to invest the time into renegotiating Halls’ current rate, or finding a different engineer altogether.

Differing views

“I’m not sure if it makes that much of a difference,” Committeeman Bill Roehrich said. “We’re still spending a lot less than most towns, and we’re getting a good job for it.”

“I think that $8,000 might be lost with a new, less expensive engineer coming in,” said Vice Mayor Jim Harmon. “What Mr. Hall can do in just a couple hours–because of his knowledge of the town and what’s been done in the past–might take a new engineer much longer, which would cost more.”

The committee last searched for a new town engineer in 2009, interviewing dozens of candidates after receiving more than 80 applications. The committee decided to stay with Hall based on his experience, knowledge of the town and rate.

Committeeman Jim LiaBraaten said he’d like to try the process again, to see what may be available in the open market. “If we’re going to question Mr. Hall’s rates and job, we may as well see what else is out there,” he said. “It’s the only fair way to do it. We might be surprised with what we find.”

Short said he would open dialogue with Hall regarding his pay rate, and that further discussion with the committee would take place at its next work session, Wednesday, Feb. 16. The open session will be held at the at 7:30 p.m.