GUTTENBERG AND BEYOND -- This past March 8, the Guttenberg Housing Authority passed a resolution at its public meeting but declined to say what it was about, only referring to it as “the contract discussed during closed session.”

The Hudson Reporter submitted a request on March 9 through the state’s Open Public Records Act and waited the legally expected seven days for the documents, but the GHA said they never received the request. After the Reporter dropped off another request at the GHA office on March 19, they sent a fax stating the resolution was “in use” and thus could not be given out. They said the request would be available on April 12. However, the Reporter did not receive it by then.

Two weeks ago, the Reporter finally received Resolution 2010-19. It amended the contract of GHA Executive Director Barbara Criscione.

The GHA is the body that oversees federally subsidized public housing in the township.

The resolution increased Criscione’s annual salary to $174,900.

According to the Asbury Park Press’s public official salary search, Criscione earned $157,169 in 2008, the most recent year for which records were available.

The resolution was approved by every commissioner except Julio Pena and Ana Betances, who were absent. They have both missed more than 10 meetings since January 2009.

The new contract will span five years. -- Tricia Tirella