Recent Articles on MUAs' Throughout the State
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Water main break leaves homes dry

No Shortage of JCMUA lawyers, we foot the bill...
( Jersey Journal - 12/2/2005 - Earl Morgan )

 

In these hard times, we'd all like a little more in our paychecks.   How does a 400 percent raise sound?   The Newark law firm of Booker, Rabinowitz et. al., and its partner Elnardo Webster II, who is assigned to the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority, began its relationship with the authority on Dec. 28, 2004, with a $50,000 annual contract, plus expenses, to represent the agency in sewer and water matters. A scant five months later, the board handed them a $50,000  raise. On June 30, they got another $50,000 raise. Four months later, the contract was hiked by $30,000. And at Tuesday's meeting, a resolution was passed giving them an additional $40,000.   From $50,000 to $220,000 in 11 months. That's an increase, actually, of 440 percent.

JCMUA hires exec director.... ( Jersey Journal - 11/15/2005 - Earl Morgan )
 

Wall Township attorney Dan Becht has been hired for $101,400-a-year as executive director of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority.

Flush with Cash: Some towns ended MUAs' ( Courier News - 10/3/2005 )

"A Gannett New Jersey investigation into public water and sewerage authorities around the state found nepotism
 and patronage hires, questionable spending, criminal acts and large fiscal reserves."

" State Sen. Leonard T. Connors Jr., R-Ocean, introduced a law in 2001 that made it easier for municipalities 
to get rid of autonomous water and sewer authorities by assuming the agency's outstanding debts."

Flush with Cash: Monmouth authority takes steps to cut spending and staffing
Bayshore authority has almost as many bosses as employees   ( Courier News - 10/3/2005 )

" Executive Director Richard W. Ellison was offered an early pension and lifetime medical benefits.
When Ellison, 64, retired in August 2004, he was paid a $66,950 salary. As part of his severance package, 
the authority paid him $25,504 for his unused sick time.  Even though Ellison retired less than a year before he 
turned 65, the authority also had to pay $152,671 to the state Division of Pensions and Benefits to 
compensate the state for the cost of his early retirement package...  Replacing Ellison was West Virginia 
native Kelly A. Tomblin, a lawyer with an MBA.  In November, five days before she gave birth to her second 
child, she interviewed for the job: fifteen hours a week at $30 an hour with no benefits.  'The changes that 
have been made since she's been there are phenomenal,'  Authority Chairman Sachs said."

Flush with Cash: Future of Brick Township authority in question after series of 
scandals Residents pack the house at authority's meetings.  ( Courier News - 10/3/2005 )

"Kevin Donald, the executive director who told investigators that the current chairman, Andrew P. Nittoso, instructed him to
"bury" the oversight on the nonpayment of services, is now fighting to keep his job, which pays  $140,000 a year.  And the
Township Council has charged Nittoso with misconduct, neglect of duty and inefficiency  in an attempt to remove him from office."

Flush with Cash: Ocean County authority proud of its successes  ( Courier News - 10/3/2005 )

"With three wastewater treatment plants, 40 pumping stations and 265 employees, the county authority 
is responsible for treating sewage collected from all the municipalities in Ocean County and five in 
Monmouth County. More than 40 of those employees are related to someone else who works for the authority."