School Board Approves 3% Pay Hike for Non-Union Staff

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education approved a plan to give 3 percent pay raises to the district's non-union administrative and supervisory personnel at its meeting at Brooklawn Middle School last Thursday.

The plan for the increase appeared as part of the omnibus Superintendent's Report voted upon by members at the end of each meeting.

Per usual, Board President Susy Golderer called for a vote on the report, of which a number of items dealt with approving the re-employment of workers ranging from non-affiliated teachers and administrators to the Video on the Go staff and department supervisors; proposed salaries included a 3 percent pay hike. 

When it was time for member Anthony Mancuso to vote, he opted to make a statement.

"I was rather surprised that the process we used in the past to work out... I'm sorry," he said. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for all the unaffiliated employees who work in the district. They do an outstanding job and my vote does not reflect on their performance in any way, shape or form."

With that introduction, Mancuso explained that he could not cast a vote in favor of the increases because the normal process of considering the matter was not followed.

"The Board of Education was completely left out of the process," he said. "That's the first time I've seen that happen."

As promised, he voted no on the pay raise items.

Board member Frank Calabria asked President Golderer whether it would be possible for the body to discuss the matter, since it had not been given an opportunity to do so. The president replied that doing so in the middle of a vote already underway would be inappropriate, but that the items could be pulled and discussion could take place within a closed executive session afterward if need be.

"As far as I know, nothing has been done out of the ordinary from the way it's been done in the past," she said. "If the board feels there hasn't been enough discussion, we can pull [items] 22 to 43."

After a bit more talk on the issue, member Michael Strumolo said he did not approve of a vote being stopped for discussion. Board Attorney Mark Tabakin noted that per Robert's Rules of Order, Strumolo was correct in his complaint.

"Then we'll continue," Golderer said.

The vote on the whole of the Superintendent's Report went forward, and in the end, the pay raise items were approved with one "no" (Mancuso) and one abstention (member Gary Martin).