Credit: Bristol Township
Bristol Township Council at Thursday’s meeting approved 5-1 a pay raise for Township Manager Bill McCauley.
The raise of $4,000 goes into effect for 2014, bringing the manager’s salary to $136,620 for 2014. The new deal includes increases to $141,000 in 2015 and $147,000 in 2016, officials said.
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McCauley was hired as interim manager in January 2012 at a wage of $125,000 with benefits after the township dropped the mayor’s office and went to a seven-member council. The council changed McCaluley’s status from interim to permanent in July of 2012.
The manager’s tenure has come with a mixed bag of results so far in terms of a number of issues, namely confrontations with the police union and other labor entities within the township employee structure as cuts to the workforce have been made.
Under McCauley’s guidance, township residents have not had their taxes raised in three years by council, miles of roads have been paved – with more paving work to begin in the spring – and there has been progress made in terms of finances.
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Earlier this year, McCauley highlighted some of the gains with a financial report he delivered to council on fiscal year 2012. Revenue came in $1.3 million higher and expenses $936,450 lower than expected.
In the latest budget cycle, McCauley highlight financial savings to the township, which included several renegotiated contracts for services and utilities and a increase in tax money brought in from new businesses. In addition, the township manager negotiated a new trash collection contract going into effect in the new year that has also saved the township money over the life of the contract but cut pickup days from 2 to 1. Some resident have protested because it cuts service from two days to one.
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Solicitor Randall Flager said he believes the township is getting a bargain with its new deal with McCauley, citing Middletown Township Manager Stephanie Teoli-Kuhl’s salary in comparison to McCauley. Teoli earns $148,000.
A provision to buy back two weeks of sick time will be eliminated and replaced with an annual retirement contribution of 5 percent is part of McCauley’s new deal.
The manager is not included in the township’s post-retirement health plan, Flager said.
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No word as of yet if the township plans to hire more police officers. In recent months, recent have lobbied for more officers to patrol the streets after crime in their neighborhoods.
