Letters to the Editor
Editor:
It was interesting to take note of all of the praise and accolades recently heaped upon our Salem city councilman, Bud Schory, by fellow Democratic councilmen Justin Palmer and Clyde Brown. Was the Schory appointment a matter of “good government” though, or merely another example of feeding at the public trough?
“Double-dipping” on the part of public officials is nothing new around here. Public employees in every sector of the local, county, state government – as well as in the school districts – can opt for their full retirement benefits, including free health care for life, once they formally retire. Then, after a minimal time period, they can be rehired (or reappointed) to their old job at full pay. It is really quite unbelievable, but true.
In the instance of Councilman Schory, he could “retire” from the office of city councilman and then file for full retirement benefits under the Public Employment Retirement System (PERS). This way, his health care (which was reportedly costing him some $2,400 per month) could be picked up by the taxpayers, for the rest of his life, with him only paying $22 a month. Then, once this benefit kicked in, he could get reappointed to council and start collecting his $4,600 annual council pay, in addition to his retirement benefits.
Not only that, but Mr. Schory missed four out of 11 scheduled City Council meetings in 2007 (40 percent). Should he be obligated to pay the city back 40 percent of the pay he received for those missed meetings?
Meanwhile, Clyde Brown wasted the entire first quarter of 2008 trying to deny the mayor his right to appoint a safety director in order to save Salem the director’s $8,400 salary? Come on, who is Mr. Brown and his sidekicks kidding?
If the Democrats on council are serious about achieving efficiencies at City Hall, they ought to start practicing what they preach. Not enough for a safety director but more than enough for double dipping. I say, enough is enough!
Audrey L. Jensen
Salem
It was interesting to take note of all of the praise and accolades recently heaped upon our Salem city councilman, Bud Schory, by fellow Democratic councilmen Justin Palmer and Clyde Brown. Was the Schory appointment a matter of “good government” though, or merely another example of feeding at the public trough?
“Double-dipping” on the part of public officials is nothing new around here. Public employees in every sector of the local, county, state government – as well as in the school districts – can opt for their full retirement benefits, including free health care for life, once they formally retire. Then, after a minimal time period, they can be rehired (or reappointed) to their old job at full pay. It is really quite unbelievable, but true.
In the instance of Councilman Schory, he could “retire” from the office of city councilman and then file for full retirement benefits under the Public Employment Retirement System (PERS). This way, his health care (which was reportedly costing him some $2,400 per month) could be picked up by the taxpayers, for the rest of his life, with him only paying $22 a month. Then, once this benefit kicked in, he could get reappointed to council and start collecting his $4,600 annual council pay, in addition to his retirement benefits.
Not only that, but Mr. Schory missed four out of 11 scheduled City Council meetings in 2007 (40 percent). Should he be obligated to pay the city back 40 percent of the pay he received for those missed meetings?
Meanwhile, Clyde Brown wasted the entire first quarter of 2008 trying to deny the mayor his right to appoint a safety director in order to save Salem the director’s $8,400 salary? Come on, who is Mr. Brown and his sidekicks kidding?
If the Democrats on council are serious about achieving efficiencies at City Hall, they ought to start practicing what they preach. Not enough for a safety director but more than enough for double dipping. I say, enough is enough!
Audrey L. Jensen
Salem