Safety director, risk mgr. discussed

by Julie Fink, Gazette Staff Writer

HAMMONTON—At the town council meeting on January 23, Hammonton Town Council voted to table the resolution 021-2012 amending the resolution 153-07 appointing a safety director.
The vote was 4-2 for tabling, with one recusal.
According to Councilman Paul Esposito, previously the position of town safety director was an individual paid position, and the passing of the amendment to the resolution would make the duties of a safety director fall under the job of the risk manager at no cost.
“Mayor and council have determined that it would be beneficial to the town to have the risk manager (RMC) conduct all necessary work pertaining to the Town of Hammonton Safety Program,” according to the meeting agenda.
The Joint Insurance Fund requires all participating municipalities to appoint a safety director to oversee the safety programs of the town, according to Esposito.
“Basically, the job would be to watch the safety standards for both the general public and the town employees with the hope that if we do a good job of safety, we will have less claims,” Esposito said.
P.J. Pullia of M.L. Ruberton Risk Management LLC was appointed the risk manager of the town on January 1; therefore, the resolution called for the appointment of Pullia to the position of safety director at no cost.
Councilman Michael Pullia recused himself from the vote.
A motion to table was made by Councilman Stephen Furgione and seconded by Anni Carpo.
During the January 23 meeting, Mayor Stephen DiDonato explained his no vote regarding the risk manager given at the January 1 council reorganization meeting.
“On January 1, I made a vote in the negative to appoint the risk manager at the time. I have been asked a couple of questions as to why. I feel that I need to clarify my no vote, now that the issue has been brought up again. I voted no because I believe council has to remain consistent in our actions. I believe this town, as town leaders, we are here to make the tough decisions. They are not easy some nights; sometimes they are followed by sleepless nights at home. I made a decision that day because there were two quotes for risk manager. One quote was from Nick Cashan for Maran Corporate Risk Associates for $22,500 and the other was for P.J. Pullia and M.L. Ruberton for $25,400, I voted no because in the past, we have voted to lay off employees. We have voted to cut hours. I have sat in negotiations with unions two years ago and made the tough decision to ask for givebacks from those unions. Consistency is the only thing we have up here. If we do not remain consistent it is not fair to the taxpayers of the town of Hammonton. That is why I made that no vote on January 1,” DiDonato said.
Councilman Sam Rodio also discussed his January 1 no vote.
“I was also a no vote that night. I sat in those same negotiations and made decisions on those same layoffs, and I understand what it is to go through rough times in the private sector. I would like to voice my opinion as to why we made that no vote. It is tough sitting here. It is not easy to sit here and make those decisions. You have to look at the entire town of where we were and where we are going,” Rodio said.
The resolution was tabled with a vote of three in favor, one recusal and two votes in the negative.
Council members Carpo, Esposito, Furgione and Michael Torrissi voted in favor of tabling, Michael Pullia recused and DiDonato and Rodio voted against tabling the resolution.