logo
Google Play App Store
Log In subscribe and/or renew Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
Letters to the Editor
May 23, 2024
Setting the Record Straight on DPW Staffing

While I prefer to limit my public comments on matters involving Garwood employees or labor contracts, there is an incredible amount of false information circulating on social media regarding our Department of Public Works. Unfortunately, much of the misinformation is coming from a current member of the Council.

First, let me reassure everyone. There is no elaborate scheme against the Garwood Department of Public Works; I am not attempting to force anyone to resign or shut down operations. In fact, we have been diligently adding seasonal laborers as quickly as we can find suitable candidates to address recent staffing issues resulting from accidental injuries to two of our full-time laborers.

Since mid-2022, the Garwood DPW has operated effectively with six full-time and one permanent parttime laborer after two laborers resigned. The decision was made in 2022 to leave those full-time positions unfilled for the remainder of the year and to use seasonal labor as needed. In 2023, the Public Works Superintendent did not request the positions in that year’s budget process. There was no request in 2024 either, until Councilwoman Kim Salmon, who does not sit on the Public Works Committee, unilaterally decided the DPW is understaffed after a second injury to a full-time laborer. Why should the temporary leave of a full-time employee in the short term mean we should commit to two full-time employees in the long term? It doesn’t make financial sense – using seasonal workers to fill the short-term openings does.

The remainder of the Council has expressed openness to revisiting the staffing number for our DPW; however, these discussions will be ongoing and based on facts as they change – not over anecdotes and alarmist social media posts, including ones by Councilwoman Salmon proclaiming the Council has decimated the DPW, just one day after the second laborer was injured. These decisions must be carefully considered for the benefit of Garwood’s current taxpayers and the long-term financial sustainability of our community.

Without discussion, it would be irresponsible to commit to increasing the overall number of full-time laborers from a level that has held since 2022. We need to remain focused on the long-term costs associated with a 5-step salary guide, which tops out at $76,000 after five years. Even with modest inflation adjustments, these costs will compound resulting in $100,000-plus annual salaries over the next 10 to 15 years, plus the cost of healthcare and pension benefits. We need to manage these long-term decisions carefully, and taking an emotional stance to expand the workforce to address a temporary situation is simply not responsible nor fair to the taxpayers of today and tomorrow.

I hope this brings some clarity and contrasting perspective to the misinformation being spread online for way too long. I’ve said this many times at our Council meetings, but it is worth repeating: this Council cannot and will not govern nor legislate based on the back-and-forth banter on Facebook. As Mayor, I am committed to transparency and ensuring the public has the truth. My door is always open, and I will always aim to give you the best information I can so you can walk away with the facts and make your own informed opinion.

Jen Blumenstock Mayor of Garwood

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Main, News
1958 Cuban Cuisine Reopens Following Mandated Closure
By KATIE MOEN 
Thursday, September 11, 2025
WESTFIELD — 1958 Cuban Cuisine, a Westfield restaurant that was cited for unsanitary conditions last month, has reopened with a satisfactory rating af...
this is a test
Main
Clark BOE Prepares for Referendum, Nov. Election
By KATIE MOEN 
Thursday, September 11, 2025
CLARK — Clark residents will be heading to the polls next week to weigh in on a $34.8 million bond referendum that school officials say will help to c...
this is a test
Paid Political
Westfield Would be Lucky to Have a Mayor Like Jeremy Berman
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
I am proud to submit this letter in support of Jeremy Berman for mayor. My family and I moved to Westfield in the summer of 2020—a time that was anyth...
this is a test
Summit Area Old Guard To Host Guest Speaker
Community, News
Summit Area Old Guard To Host Guest Speaker
Thursday, September 11, 2025
AREA – On Tuesday, September 16, at 9:30 a.m., The Summit Area Old Guard will welcome our member James T. Clemens, PhD, physicist and former AT&T empl...
this is a test
Mountainside District Team Secures Championship
News, Sports
Mountainside District Team Secures Championship
By SERENA BROWN 
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountainside Council acknowledged the accomplishments of a district little league team on Tuesday, congratulating the second- and t...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader