CFO is first selected for boro’s new stipend

SPOTSWOOD — Borough officials have selected Chief Financial Officer Barbara Petren as the first recipient of the new merit stipend for municipal employees.

The program, created recently by the Borough Council, provides one-time stipends to employees considered worthwhile due to work they did beyond their job duties. Petren, according to Mayor Barry Zagnit, was instrumental in helping him deal with last year’s sudden departure of Business Administrator Jacqueline Ascione, as well as with a general labor shortage.

Petren will receive $2,500 after being recommended by Zagnit and accepted by the Borough Council at its Nov. 22 meeting. The payment does not affect Petren’s salary, and she is eligible to get the award again in future years if recommended.

Zagnit said Petren helped him for a period of months when he served as acting business administrator. Ascione left due to pending criminal charges stemming from her previous employment in Howell Township.

Zagnit said he was not only down an administrator, but also a secretary for a period of time.

“I was doing three jobs at once, and it’s not physically possible,” he said.

In fact, Petren helped him at the most important time of year, he said, because it was time to put together the municipal budget. That job is normally done in large part by the administrator.

Petren also helped with other financial matters such salary and wage, accounts payable and personnel issues, he said.

“She just helped me wherever there was a need,” he said. “And she had a lot to do on her own.”

It was already a busy time of year for Petren, who as CFO was closing out the previous year’s budget and creating one for the new year, he said.

“She did a wonderful job. She rolled up her sleeves and pitched in. Whatever work needed to be done, she was there to lend a hand,” he said. “She was essential in assuring that the government continue to function, that there was no interruption in services to residents, and that the departments were supported as they should be.”

Due to personnel loses, Zagnit said it was a “tumultuous” year for the borough. He acted as administrator for about 10 months before a replacement for Ascione was hired. He said he is knowledgeable about budget matters, but not enough to prepare a budget by himself.

The borough recently amended its salary ordinance to allow for the merit stipends.

“It’s basically a one-time-only payment that does not get factored in the base pay,” he said. “So it does not have the effect of a normal base salary raise.”

The mayor said the town does not presently have plans to give additional stipends at this time.