Dear Editor:

Appalled and frustrated come to mind upon learning that for years there have been former Hoboken city employees, classified as ineligible, receiving taxpayer funded healthcare benefits. This goes beyond mismanagement, seems that Judy Tripodi, our state fiscal monitor, has uncovered yet another one of the many unethical practices plaguing Hoboken.

What is even more troubling and should be of great concern especially with a Mayoral election this May is Mayor Roberts’ comment, “this sort of thing happens in every city”, couple that with City Attorney Steven Kleinman and Roberts’ position that the city will not undertake an investigation. What are they covering up? Who are they protecting? Afraid perhaps the truth should come out. Sounds like political favors to this taxpayer.

The article goes on to mention two of those receiving free healthcare on our backs are two former council members, one a close friend of the Mayor; E. Norman Wilson. Strange how the article states that Roberts said Wilson was added back onto the benefits roll during his administration but was intended to be on a “limited benefits package”; especially when no such plan exists said a city spokesperson.

This gets even more interesting, per the article as a result of an interview with Steve Kleinman, seems that if a city employee was at fault charges could be filed, if a director was at fault the mayor could file charges, however if the mayor was at fault there is no recourse. Seems Hoboken’s city council needs to consider a new ordinance as there is no mechanism in place to hold either the mayor or a city council member accountable of an administrative code breech.

I am willing to bet that it would be difficult at best to find a non-municipal company, whether it is in the public or private sector, that doesn’t update their file of eligible and ineligible employees for employer benefits on some sort of regularity.

This is just another one of the problems that goes unchecked in this city. I am disgusted to learn that these healthcare expenses paid for by the taxpayer is partially attributable to our city’s current budget nightmare. How can we stand for this, political favoritism, oversight, mismanagement… pick one.

Is there a remedy for the Hoboken taxpayers? I think these former employees should have to make some sort of restitution to Hoboken.

Brian Wagner

Very concerned resident