Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.

O’SCANLON: PAY HIKE ‘SIMPLY ISN’T PRUDENT’

Oscanlon_declan_2Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.

A war of words between state legislators and Red Bank officials over recent pay raises for borough employees continued yesterday.

Twelfth-district Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, a Little Silver Republican, fired back at the all-Democrat Red Bank Council with a letter that challenged the fiscal sense of granting annualized 3-percent salary and wage increases to non-unionized workers.

“We understand that Red Bank municipal employees are hard-working individuals and it would be wonderful if they could all get raises,” O’Scanlon writes in the letter, which was shared with redbankgreen late Wednesday. “But that simply isn’t prudent – and sends the wrong message to our constituents – when the people paying the bills are making less, or losing their jobs all together.”

So far, the GOP three have made no public mention of the two-year, 6-percent increases the borough previously granted to the two unions it bargains with: the Policemen’s Benevolent Association and the Communication Workers of America.

The tiff began earlier this month, when O’Scanlon and fellow Republicans state Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande sent a letter to the council rejecting its call for help in getting special consideration from the administration of Gov. Chris Christie as he prepares to slash state aid to towns and cities.

That prompted borough Democrats to fire back earlier this week with a charge that the Republicans were refusing to advocate for the borough in Trenton.

Here’s O’Scanlon’s reply:

While I can understand the frustration that the Mayor and Council of Red Bank Borough feel given the budget restraints they, and all other government officials throughout the State, are facing during this budget crisis, I take issue with being accused of refusing to advocate for our constituents in Red Bank.  I and my colleagues, Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, make it our top priority to advocate for the municipalities, school districts and individuals whom we represent. We work tirelessly in that pursuit.  The three of us could not be more in the forefront of the efforts to solve our present financial crisis, while also fighting for the interests of our beleaguered taxpayers.  We understand the impact of non-profit/tax exempt properties both on municipal services and budgets.  We too believe that we must take the concentration of such entities into account when considering State budget solutions.  Additionally we are aware of the positive steps the mayor and governing body of Red Bank have taken to date to balance their budget – and we applaud those efforts.  But at the same time, we have to be straight with each other and our constituents.  The fiscal crisis we now collectively face mandates drastic action – and provides us with an opportunity to fix the grossly irresponsible fiscal policies that have led us to this point.

Our last letter was meant as a reminder that all levels of government must be fiscally responsible in order to face down this current economic crisis. Mr. DuPont’s mischaracterization and criticism of our call for all elected officials to act prudently with our collective finances – our constituents’ hard-earned money – lacks the understanding that this is a difficult year to justify raises in the public sector when the private sector is continuing to lay off workers and freeze wages. Is that unfortunate?  Absolutely.  We understand that Red Bank municipal employees are hard-working individuals and it would be wonderful if they could all get raises.  But that simply isn’t prudent – and sends the wrong message to our constituents – when the people paying the bills are making less, or losing their jobs all together.  As a member of the budget committee, I can say without reservation that there is not a single municipality or school district that will be untouched by the necessary, but difficult, budgetary decisions. Whether those decisions are made at the State, County or Local levels, they have to be made.  I believe that the public is not only ready to hear that, but they have been longing for some elected officials willing to tell them the truth, do what needs to be done and solve the problems that have been building over years of irresponsible spending of their money. I would like to reiterate the need for cooperation and shared sacrifice at all levels. It’s not easy, but we cannot keep going about business as usual if we ever want to regain the public’s trust and confidence, and fix New Jersey’s budget crisis once and for all.

It’s time for public officials at all levels and on both sides of the political aisle to come to grips with the serious issues we face, and to come together to solve them.  We stand ready to do just that and look forward to working with the Red Bank governing body.

Sincerely,

Assemblyman Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr.

District 12

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank friend happier than to hear "I saw you on Red Bank Green!"
redbankgreen Classics
Partyline
RED BANKJ: JAZZ IN THE PARK BEGINS THURSDAY
Jazz in the Park kicks off tonight (Thursday) with The Grace Fox Big Band, an all-women 16-piece ensemble known for its bold original compos ...
LOST PARROT
This little blue beauty was found by a redbankgreen reporter Thursday boldly tempting fate by foraging on the ground on the turf of a pack o ...
ORANGE GLOW OVER RED BANK
A truly unbelievable post-storm sunset Tuesday (shot on Monmouth St. facing west). Photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus.
BROAD STREET’S THIRSTY BLOOMS
Delfino, a worker with the company Terra Casa that manages the flower beds for the Red Bank special improvement district waters the flowers ...
PILGRIM BAPTIST MEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
  (photo by: Shanikquya Jackson) On Sunday, June 22, Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank hosted its annual Men’s Day Celebration a ...
THREE GENERATION PROCLAMATION
Mayor Billy Portman presents the Borough of Red Bank’s Independence Day 2025 Proclamation to Arleen Brahn (second from right), grandmo ...
STEW THE BUTCHER COSPLAY
On the occasion of the retirement of Stewart Goldstein, longtime proprietor of Monmouth Meats, we thought it apt to present this photo from ...
NAVESINK FISHING
A kayak fisherman tries his luck under the NJ Transit train trestle across the Navesink River in Red Bank. (Photo by Partyline contributor A ...
RED BAKE
As the temperature hit 100 degrees Tuesday, Tom Sevison, Red Bank High School Class of 1973 and in town briefly on his way back home to Virg ...
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
Performers at Red Bank’s Juneteenth community celebration Sunday at Johnny Jazz Park. (photo by Brian Donohue)      
BUTTERFLIES LOVE THE WEED
Save the monarch, plant butterfly weed. (photo and text by Partyline contributor Roseann DalPra)  
LANTERNFLY PARTY
An invasive ailanthus tree sprouting in front of the US Post Office on Broad Street is covered with invasive spotted lantern fly nymphs Wedn ...
STREETCORNER SERENADE
An Irish doodle named Cheddar listens to native New Jerseyan, singer/songwriter and former Houston resident Tom Foti, (identified in the hea ...
Red Bank 5K Fun!!!
Red Bank Classic – June 14th, 2025 (photo by Partyline contributor Adam Kaplan)  
RAINBOW OVER RED BANK
Saturday, before and after the storm that rolled through town. (photo by Partyline contributor Thomas Doremus)    
Mini Ballers Bring the Heat at Fusion Basketball School
As the temperatures heat up, so does the competition in the mini baller clinic at Fusion School of Basketball. These little tykes are intens ...
DOZENS OF PLEIN AIR ARTISTS “PAINT RED BANK”
Plein air artists take over town for first ever "Paint Red Bank" event. (click to read)
RED BANK: SIGN ON ICONIC DANNY’S STEAK HOUSE COMES DOWN
The sign hanging from the shuttered Danny's Steak House comes down ten months after a manager reported Danny's Steakhouse would be back "bet ...
FOR YANKEES FANS, GOOD TRASH PICKIN’
A collection of framed photographs of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and other New York Yankees greats was placed curbside along with a ...
RED BANK: NEW HANDICAPPED PARKING, WEST SIDE MEETING PLANNED
New handicapped parking sign West Side advocate had pressed for is installed, with meeting planned to discuss other concerns. (click to read ...