February 6, 2010 (Kearny, NJ) Our latest poll Which Department Would You Cut if You Were Mayor? results have been finalized. Participants have suggested that the Fire Department, Mayor's Staff and Public Works be the first three departments to have staffing cut.

The Fire Department received 31 votes (26.7%), Mayor's Staff received 29 votes (25%) while the Public Works received 16 votes (13.8%). The other departments in the poll received the following votes (percentage): Legal 11 (9.5%), Town Clerk's Office 11 (9.5%), Municipal Court 8 (6.9%), Senior Citizen Programs 4 (3.4%), Police 3 (2.6%), Tax Collector 1 (.9%), Water Department 1 (.9%), and Library 1 (.9%). There was a total of 115 votes.





Although the poll is highly unscientific, the results are interesting. Our Discussion Board has had several threads regarding the cutting of personnel in local Fire Departments primarily the Harrison Fire Department. Public perception is that the fire department is too large and that firefighters are making significant salaries. A close runner up to the Fire Department, Mayor's Staff also makes some sense since it would be expected that local Mayor's would share in the sacrifices necessary to close budget gaps.

Our new poll, "Is Governor Christie being too tough on the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners (PVSC)?" was inspired by the recent public statements by Governor Christie about PVSC's Executive Director Bryan Christiansen’s $290,730 salary. Christiansen is the highest paid employee in the State's Pension system.

Throughout the years, there have been several threads on the KOTW Discussion Board about PVSC. The Discussion's have focused on the employment practices of the agency and how many politically connected individuals have been hired by the agency throughout the years. Visit our Discussion Board and do a search for PVSC to read those discussions.