The Trenton Times published the following article on May 25, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton finds way to pay salaries of workers preparing for city’s summer programs
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on May 25, 2013 at 8:20 AMTRENTON — After some concern raised by city council members, Mayor Tony Mack and his administration agreed Thursday night to keep the budgets for the Trent House and City Museum whole, while reallocating funds from within the recreation department to pay the salaries for employees preparing the city’s summer programs.
The $13,650 was shifted to pay for five employees to prepare the summer programs, mayoral aide Anthony Roberts said. The city will hire a director for the annual summer food service program and four employees for the summer pool program.
Roberts and the administration had initially proposed taking the funds from the salary line items in the budgets for the Trent House and City Museum. Council members Marge Caldwell-Wilson and Zachary Chester argued that the money was placed in the budget for the two historical sites so that they could hire a director, but the administration, which is in charge of hiring for the city, never filled the position.
The Trenton Museum Society, an independent group that oversees operations and exhibits at the City Museum in the city-owned Ellarslie Mansion, and the Trent House Association, have brought on part-time director Bob Sands to oversee operations at both locations and are funding his position with their own funds.
After the administration agreed not to touch the funds for the historic sites, council unanimously approved the resolution to fund the summer positions.
The Summer Food Service program begins on July 1 and runs through Aug. 30, serving free breakfast and lunch to children.
The funding will be used to hire a coordinator, assistant coordinator and two lifeguards for the city’s pools. Roberts said they need to come on early to prepare the pools for inspection and the season. They will paint and power wash the pools as well as maintain pool equipment.
Contact Jenna Pizzi at jpizzi@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5717.