Mahwah June 12, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 Overtime expenses remain on township’s agenda by Frank J. McMahon Police overtime expenses remain a concern in Mahwah, where Township Administrator Brian Campion has cautioned the council that the budgeted amount for overtime could be exhausted before the end of the year. Sick time and workman’s compensation expenses are at the center of the issue. The council’s concern was raised during a periodic budget report by Campion, during which the administrator reviewed the status of the expenses of the township’s departments through April 30. Campion provided the council with a handout showing the status of the township’s budget, including the police department’s overtime expenses. Councilman John Roth commented that it showed there is a “clear issue” with overtime related to the injuries or illnesses of police officers, and he predicted that, if it continues, the police department would overrun its budget by $100,000 this year. Campion agreed, pointing out that the police department has a $375,000 budget for overtime and $158,360 of that amount has already been spent. “If the current trend continues, something will have to be done,” Campion said. “With no change, we will exhaust the (police overtime) budget before the end of the year and that’s a problem.” Campion said Police Chief James Batelli is aware of the problem. Councilman Steven Sbarra said he was astounded by the April report on police overtime, although he does not question that the police sick time and workman’s comp expenses are legitimate. He said he was also alarmed by the amount spent in May, and he called for Batelli to come before the council “sooner rather than later” to explain his plan for controlling the overtime expense. Council President Harry Williams also said he wants to hear from Chief Batelli about how he plans to administer sick time in a way that will keep his department from overspending its overtime budget for the year. He suggested that Campion advise Batelli of the council’s concern, and suggested that Batelli should submit a plan to Campion about how he intends to address the issue. In response to recent published reports about police overtime due to injuries and sick leave, Batelli pointed out that for the period of Jan. 1 through May 15, his depart- ment incurred a $58,240 expense for shift shortage due to sick time (illnesses or injuries). That equates to $3,761 per week, or approximately $78 per police office per week, based on 48 police officers. Captains and the chief are not eligible for overtime. Batelli broke down the percentages of the overtime through May 15 as 16.99 percent for regular overtime, 59.01 percent for court overtime, and 24 percent for double overtime, which is when a police officer must fill a shift of an officer on sick leave. “As you can see, more than half the overtime is still related to court overtime costs,” Batelli said. “While the amount of overtime for shift shortages has increased over the last year, the simple fact is the agency has been reduced by approximately 10 percent through attrition over the past several years and this year, unfortunately, we have had several officers with extended injuries/illnesses that are documented through physician notes. “This significant reduction in staffing through these events frequently results in triggering overtime if an officer is out sick or if other events may occur.” (continued on page 17)