Township considers $28K salary increase for BA
HAMILTON » You get what you pay for.
Hamilton Council is considering an ordinance to raise the township business administrator’s annual salary to gubernatorial levels.
The proposed ordinance, if adopted into law, would establish a salary range fixed at $160,000 to $175,000 for the business administrator position.
This means Mayor Jeff Martin’s interim business administrator, T. Missy Balmir, could potentially earn top dollar — a salary equal to the $175,000 that
Gov. Phil Murphy collects per annum.
A prior 2016 ordinance fixed the business administrator’s annual salary at approximately $147,000, meaning the proposed 2020 ordinance would boost the position’s yearly compensation by approximately 9 percent at the minimum to 19 percent at the maximum — a huge pay raise regardless of range placement.
Martin appointed Balmir interim business administrator last month, suggesting her tenure would be short-lived. A boosted salary, however, may entice her to stick around longer if not convince her to become a permanent fixture in the Martin administration.
If Balmir departs from township employment, a boosted salary in the range of $160,000 to $175,000 could help Martin attract and retain a new business administrator with high qualifications and experience.
Balmir, a government affairs guru, has served as a cog in the wheel of several high-profile Democrats. She previously served as an advisor to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and once worked in powerful positions under former Gov. Jon Corzine. She also served as co-chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee’s Black Caucus and has developed close ties with State Senate President Steve Sweeney and former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer.
Under the township mayor, business administrator is perhaps the most important position in Hamilton’s local government, the person who enforces the rules and regulations for the efficient management of municipal operations.
Hamilton Council was expected to introduce the salary ordinance Tuesday night on first reading. The all-Democratic governing body would have to approve the ordinance on second reading at a future public hearing for it to become ordained into law.
Martin, a Democrat, earns about $120,000 per year under a prior ordinance passed in 2017. The highest paid municipal official in Hamilton Township is Chief of Police James M. Stevens, who earns about $186,000 per year, records show.