By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Bradley Beach officials hired a new borough administrator last week, but not without some issues raised over her contract.
Gail O’Reilly, a former Red Bank planner, was hired unanimously, but when it came to approving her contract, Council President Lori Marchak-Ortiz cast a no vote.
Marchak-Ortiz objected to provisions in the contract that she believes violate the borough ordinance governing employee contracts.
O’Reilly, who started work Oct. 1, negotiated a contract with Mayor Julie Schreck for four weeks vacation time and compensation time for attending borough meetings.
Schreck said in negotiating her contract, O’Reilly sought life-work balance in lieu of monetary compensation.
Marchak-Ortiz said new hirees in the borough, according to the ordinance, are normally given 12 days vacation time.
“I’m just protecting our borough workers who have been working for years to earn vacation time,” she said.
The council president also said she believes the contract should follow the existing ordinance.
“It’s not fiscally responsible – days off are money,” she said.
On Sept. 30 Marchak-Ortiz said she had not met O’Reilly yet, mainly because she declined to attend the meeting when council members interviewed her for fear it was a violation of the Sunshine Law.
The council held two meetings to interview candidates, which were not advertised.
Schreck said it was her understanding because no discussion or deliberations took place, the meeting met the legal requirements.
“We only asked questions and then we disbursed,” Schreck said last week.
Marchak-Ortiz also said borough department heads are required to attend council meetings and are not compensated.
“I don’t believe borough department heads should be given comp time – that’s not appropriate for the taxpayers of Bradley Beach.”
Marchak-Ortiz said she is most concerned that other borough employees will seek the same compensation when contracts expire at the end of the year.
“We have public works expiring this year and P.B.A. next year. This well set a precedent and where are we going to go with this?” she asked.
“I’m trying to protect borough workers,” she said. “They have been working all these years and she gets 20 days handed to her. They worked so hard to keep the borough at the level we are at.”
“This is a fair point,” said Mayor Schreck on her online blog, “and I respect the councilwoman’s advocacy for our staff members, nevertheless I believe that agreements do not have to be identical to be fair.”
Marchak-Ortiz said the fact that O’Reilly was given a salary $30,000 less than outgoing administrator Phyllis Quixley is not relevant.
“That was her longevity,” Marchak-Ortiz said of Quixley’s higher salary.
O’Reilly, who was appointed for four years concurrent with the mayor’s term, will be paid $83,000 with an annual review on her anniversary.
She will be eligible for up to a 4.3 percent raise the first year which will be tied to her job performance.
“Which is not the case with anyone else working in the borough,” Schreck says.
Schreck expressed confidence in O’Reilly.
“I believe her skill set is exactly what we need for the most important challenges we face for the next decade.”
O’Reilly said Wednesday that working in Bradley Beach is “like coming home.”
“My family grew up in Asbury and Belmar and everywhere in between,” she said.
She said she is confident in her abilities to tackle the position.
“I’ve had so much experience I’m very comfortable and the staff has been very supportive already.”
O’Reilly said balancing her family and work life is important.
She is the mother of three children, one of whom died, several years ago.
Her youngest is a 19 year old college student.
“I take good care of my family and I take good care of my towns,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to do one to the exclusion of the other.”
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