Ed, this is former Councilman Vinnie Capodanno. I think there are a couple of questions the citizens of Hamilton Township would like to ask Mr. John Bencivengo, who’s saying the township is close to bankruptcy. If Hamilton is close to bankruptcy, (why) Mr. Bencivengo is going around saying he would like to be the highest paid employee in town. The previous mayor took $97,500 a year; Bencivengo wants about $150,000. Are all his new directors going to take a pay cut? Are we going to have a hiring freeze? What are we going to do, Mr. Bencivengo, other than raise taxes? If we’re in such bad shape, close to bankruptcy, why do you want to take $150,000 as a salary and pay your new incoming directors at the top of the pay range. Not only that, how come we’re not going to have a hiring freeze and how come you’re going to hire a lot of your buddies? I’d also like to remind him that former Mayor Gilmore, when he got in, cut his salary to $97,500 and froze it there for eight years. Also, when I was a councilman for four years, I never took a pay increase for four years. I never raised taxes. I voted against every tax increase. In fact, I cut taxes. Is Mr. Bencivengo going to follow that same route? Thank you.

Vinnie

Since before the election, the new administration has been preparing the taxpayers for an increase while blaming it on past mismanagement. A political masterpiece. —Ed. Note