This is for personal, noncommercial use only.
Today's Front Page
Gas Buddy
Administration again tests Atlantic City hiring freeze
Print this Article- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
ATLANTIC CITY - Two weeks ago, Business Administrator Michael Scott pledged that the Langford administration's request to waive City Council's hiring freeze would be its last. In a way, he kept his word. Now, it seems the administration is hiring without asking.
On Monday, the Mayor's Office confirmed that the city hired a new tax clerk in the Tax Collector's Office, a move that appears to violate the city's new restrictions on hiring and also could break the city's collective bargaining agreement.
Shameeka Harvey, a campaign worker for Mayor Lorenzo Langford's Democratic primary effort, began working Wednesday. City Council passed a hiring freeze in April but changed the initial legislation to allow for emergency hires and filling vacant positions mandated by the state, subject to council approval.
Langford's spokesman, Kevin Hall, said Monday the administration did not have to seek council approval because the city originally advertised the job March 19, well before the city enacted the freeze. He said the tax clerk position was one of two posted on that date.
But a copy of the March 19 job announcements, obtained Monday by The Press of Atlantic City, advertised for only one tax clerk.
An e-mail from Assistant Personnel Director Benay George to all City Hall employees included announcements for four job opportunities - a food service worker, an assistant tax collector, a senior cashier and one tax clerk.
The city hired Tawana Taliaferro to fill the advertised tax clerk position May 4, days before the city officially adopted the freeze. There also is no clause in the new legislation that allows the administration to hire employees to positions that were advertised before the city adopted the bill.
It is unclear how much the city will pay Harvey. The city pays Taliaferro $22,000.
The administration already asked City Council to waive its hiring restrictions earlier this month to bring aboard three new employees, including a $60,000-per-year horticulturist. Council agreed, with only the bill's sponsor, Councilman Dennis Mason, objecting. However, some members warned Scott that they would not make further concessions.
Harvey's hiring prompted the Atlantic City White Collar Association to file labor charges with the Public Employee Relations Committee, accusing the administration of failing to advertise the job to current city employees.
"It appears that (the city) is continuing to ignore its responsibilities under the labor contract," reads a letter from the union to city labor attorney Steven Glickman. "This matter has continued unresolved with yet another instance of a new hire eclipsing the right of existing employees to bid on a job."
Scott said he was unaware of the union's grievance and would comment when he gained more information. He did return subsequent calls.
Langford's latest hire also has ties to his re-election campaign. Harvey earned at least $150 from the Langford campaign for her get-out-the-vote efforts, according to the latest campaign finance reports. The final finance report will be released to the public Friday.
Harvey's father, Michael, also worked for the campaign and joined several Langford campaign workers in filing a complaint to the state's Ethics Commission accusing Langford opponent Marty Small of wrongdoing. Michael Harvey also could be Langford's choice as a candidate to run against Small in the 2nd Ward City Council race in 2011.
"So much for the budget crisis," said Robert O'Brien, the union's attorney. "They really sometimes test our patience. But what are you going to do except keep pushing?"
E-mail Michael Clark:
Posted in ATLANTIC CITY on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 3:10 am Updated: 5:39 am. | Tags: Atlantic City
25 comments:
Click here to report a comment as abusive.