Letter to the Editor: Mayor’s Message Distorts Pension Payment Record

In this month's , Mayor Ziad Shehady mentions the outstanding pension obligation that was deferred in 2009. When the Township Committee decided to defer the pension bill, the idea was to pay it off prior to 2012, since any payments made before that time would not incur interest.  In addition, spreading out the payments would significantly reduce a tax increase to the residents.

Mr. Shehady was mayor in 2010, the first year a partial payment should have been made.  However, despite the fact the township was able to significantly reduce their health insurance costs due to Governor Christie's hard stance regarding health benefits for state employees, no payment was made. 

The governor's position enabled the township to change the health package being offered and thereby reduced the cost.  In previous years any attempt by the Township Committee to reduce the cost in a similar method was blocked by arbitrator rulings; only through the governor's position were those savings able to be achieved.  Yet none of those savings were used toward the pension bill. This information was conveniently forgotten by Mr. Shehady. 

The mayor should make better use of the mayor's message.  He should explain the facts in their entirety and provide information regarding the accomplishments of the entire Township Committee, instead of using it for his own self-promotion.