Mayor Roberts, Ms. Tripodi, Public Safety Director Bergen,
As we know, several in the Police Department took the test to become the next Police Chief - Captain Anthony Falco and Acting Police Chief Robert Lisa are among them.
Can we consider hiring someone from the outside considering what happened in the Police Department under LaBruno with Falco, Lisa and others officers in the Police administration?
Like other departments such as Finance, the Tax Assessor, we really need new leadership. We need people that are not numb to the way Hoboken has operated year in and year out who won't view the same old behaviors as 'the way it is'.
What are the rules around hiring from the outside? Certainly other cities have done this. What is the rationale for allowing JC, Newark and Paterson to replace the Police and Fire Chiefs and not a city of Hoboken's size? Can't we change the rules so we can do the right thing?
I think we should seriously consider bringing in a retiring Coast Guard Captain or the like who can really shake up the department in terms of operational procedures, discipline and accountability.
Can we give preference to a qualified candidate who is supportive of give backs from the both unions and perhaps would do so by taking a pay cut that brings his salary and benefits more in line with national averages? The NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly makes $189,700 and I think all of you would agree his job is bigger. The borough police chiefs which again I think are larger roles make in the $125K range. The national average for a Police Chief per Monster.com's research department is $95K. If you add 18% for the cost of living for NYC, that comes to $112K. The acting Police Chief Lisa makes $216K in addition to highly lucrative fringe benefits.
Judy, what can we do for the people of Hoboken? In my 35 unit building, I have 4 owners who can't pay their maintenance and haven't done so for months. The people of Hoboken need the relief.
Please do the right thing here. Thoughts?
- Donna ◦
