Mayor Langert: Hopeful In Reaching Amicable Agreement With Unions

langert and pba_wmEXCLUSIVE: Mayor Steven Langert tells TLS that he still hopes to reach an amicable agreement with the PBA and hopes to avoid any layoffs. “I had a very nice discussion with the PBA”, the Mayor says, “and I hope to pick up on it next week”. Meanwhile, says the Mayor, there hasn’t been any definite decision at this time to lay off the 13 municipal workers – which would include DWP workers and five police officers – as first reported on TLS last week.

Earlier this week, Langert said, “It’s no secret that our town and our state are in dire financial straits. We simply cannot sustain the levels we have all enjoyed in better economic times. We are looking at an $854,000 increase in pension contributions, and health care insurance premiums are soaring, among other rising costs. This was an opportunity to save an estimated $900,000 for the Township.”

At issue was the change in health insurance plans. The Township has been providing six different health care plans through its carrier the Central Jersey Health Insurance Fund. Changing to only one, uniform health care benefit package, a plan that has the same benefits that county and state employees receive, would have resulted in a significant savings of an estimated $900,000 for the Township. 

“I’m hopeful in reaching an amicable agreement with the unions, which will allow us to modify the health insurance and avert any potential layoffs”, Langert told TLS.

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36 COMMENTS

  1. “This was an opportunity to save an estimated $900,000 for the Township.” Langert said.

    WAS is the key word here. Mayor, I hope you learned your lesson. You can’t bully the PBA in Lakewood. We called your bluff. The First Aid should have as well. You should take a few minutes and read our contract and get to know it a little better. Happy Holidays.

  2. Mayor Langert please save some insurance premiums by refusing your insurance from the township and have the other members refuse the benefits. It would show good faith on your part. Can’t you do that for the good of the town? It would be a blessing for everyone.

  3. blah blah blah blah. all you people should move here and pay taxes here, then you would sing a different tune – local people applaud the Mayor for his good work on our behalf.

  4. Lets just be grateful that the mayor is considering not laying people off. You first three obvislously were not on the chopping block.

    Don’t poke a bear with a stick.

  5. To
    CAC”in says:
    “local people applaud the Mayor for his good work on our behalf.”
    You ar kidding right?
    Not me
    Who is our behalf???
    So many other place to cut waste !!!!

  6. I do live in lakewood, Own a House, Pay my taxes , Own a Business and Pay LOTS of taxes and I still think MR Langert doesn’t have the residents interest as first priority. I’m still waiting for him to have a proper audit of what’s going on in town. The fact that they have to pay out so much $$$$ to the retiring Police Officials is something they knew would happen but thanks to the Governor its all in one shot. How about working a payment plan to pay them instead of slashing our protection? Mr Langert why don’t you refuse health insurance from the town.

  7. We all at one time did grow up and live in lakewood, but we had to move out of town because we weren’t fitting in. it was a very beautiful town in the past now look what has happen to lakewood. amazing to think that lakewood use to be one a playground and home of some of the rich and famous in the world, now they won’t even step foot in this town.

  8. Well said #9 living and growing up in Lakewood was great I would have loved to stay if the good nebiorhoods did not change into the hood and ms13 territory

  9. To we are not scared, I think you nead to re-read this post. Nowhere here does it say that the layoffs are off the table, I’m afraid that the union won’t come to its senses and save the jobs of its own members by re-considering accepting a change in benefits. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you are a cop who’s job is not one of those in jeopardy I wonder if it was your job on the line if you would be singing a different tune? While I find the whole topic distasteful, I applaud the mayor for making the tough decisions that have been sorely lacking for many many years. As a taxpayer who pays over ten thousand dollars a year, and who PAYS for health insurance from my own pocket, my thanks go out to Steve for looking out for the taxpayers of Lakewood and trying to cut costs wherever he can.

  10. Lay them all off, and there is no reason city employees should get any healthcare package at all. since when does a gov. job entitle one to insurance its nuts, in the private sector they dont get it, why is it any different. the answer is, and an answer to # 1 as well, its the unions who are the bullys the union workers should not be getting anything close to the benefits they are getting now its all a sham and thievery

  11. The mayor should refuse his township benefits and salary. It would be a good example for the rest of the town. You want others to make a sacrifice. Why don’t you set the example. Lead by example.

  12. CAC n Bull is what I read in your words. Neighborhoods change, its just the way of the world. I know you may be uncomfortable with the change, but that doesn’t negate the fact that if you moved out of town, for whatever reason, you cannot possibly relate to the intense pressure of the local taxpayer today. Audit yes, givebacks yes, and if push comes to shove, I am sorry to say layoffs yes. Its us or them, and I dont think the property owners in Lakewood can bear more taxation. So for all those reasons, we applaud the Mayor for being reasonable but strong, and representing us the local residents and taxpayers who put him there with the hope that finally someone would say what needed to be said and do what needed to be done, instead of always caving in to the bully tactics and publicity pressures, as unfortunately worked on some committeemen in the past. Steve be the Mayor again, please.

  13. Mayor Steve,
    We are so proud of you.
    Keep up the good work.

    Bottom line is, the unions are spolied brats, who think they need to be given everything, while we taxpayers are struggling.

    My health insurance premiums just doubled, and my copays also doubled, yet for the unions, g-d forbid they should pay $10 copay.
    My copay just went up to $40. There’s no one to complain to. If I don’t like it, I can look for a new job.
    Hey unions, wake up and smell the coffee, your reign of terror against the taxpayers are over. We finally have a governor who has the guts to stand up to this insanity.

    Steve, keep up the good fight for the thousands of lakewood residents who are struggling mightily in this era.

  14. To # 18. There are words in your comment which we felt are unfit for our readers. Please revise your comment and it will be posted.

    Should you have any further questions, please contact us via email.

    Thank you.

  15. am i still being moderated? i think moderation should only be done in moderation. My response to CAC is reasonable and needs no further modification nor moderation. please post it.

  16. I think what are seeing is just an example of old fashion politics. The mayor made threats that he couldn’t back up. I think if the mayor would have gone to the unions and presented a health plan that was both fair and balanced the unions would work with him, instead he stomped his feet and said take my health plan or I will layoff workers. The health plan presented was dressed up to look like one similar to the current plan but a close look revealed that it wasn’t. Honesty also goes a long way .

  17. Amen Anon, this is a mayor who instead of going to the PBA like a man to try and hammer out a plan he went public and made denands he couldnt baback up, lesson dont let your mouth write checks you cant cash

  18. To #12, Hey genius, never did the mayor guarantee that layoffs would be off the table if we accepted the “lower” health plan. And nowhere in my post does it say that layoffs are definitely off the table. And to “Abe” we negotiated for these health benefits. I guess what your saying is tha your hero the mayor and his puppets shouldn’t have healthcare either.

  19. The soon to be ex-mayor will cave on this just like he did on the homeless camp, and the illegals littering the center of town. The bottom line is if the layoffs do come to be you’ll still be paying through the nose in taxes, but you’ll wait a little longer for a policeman to show up, and it’ll be a lot harder to get a special garbage pick-up. He wants to be a tough guy but he turning out to be quite the nebbish.

  20. Steve is the only one in the last 20 years to stand up to lower our tax burden. WHO SAYS JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PUBLIC SECTOR JOB ENTITLES YOU TO MASSIVE BENEFIT PACKAGES?

  21. since the only voters in this town are the poor “nebbishes” paying taxes to give these unions the ridiculous things they negotiated for and extracted from weaker prior committees, I think Steve is a landslide winner come Nov. Everyone I know is voting for him, fair and honest but not wimpy when it comes to protecting the taxpayer. It’s about time.

  22. Amazing how everyone is so against the police keeping benefits? What about the committee who you are all forced to vote for. They work 12 days a year and get a full salary of average 20,000 plus benefits. 5 people there is 100,000 more dollars they can save. Why doesnt the committee step up and do something. This town needs to stop thinking they are owed something. You people are never happy, except when one of these as you say “spoiled brats” is doing you a favor. Remember how spoiled these people are the next time you call crying for help oh wait you will just call the Chief and get it resolved that way.
    Mayor Langert, oh the joy of only hearing that for 1 more month. You need to start setting examples if you want anything done, give up your benefits and salary and save the town some money.
    Maybe if you were upfront with people things would get worked out.

  23. Mayor, again, give up your perks. It’s a good example for the town to follow. Lead by example. If you can make some sacrifices, it will be easier for the rest of the town to follow.

  24. Let the committee men give up their benefits. That is a very unnecessary expenditure. Then get rid of the politically appointed employees making fat salaries and getting benefits who simply don’t have the experience to perform their jobs. Then move one of the current employees into those positions a.d give them a small raise. That would save a ton of money right there. Then get rid of the no show employee/employees. Then stop paying the cell phone bills of certain people and you will have saved all the money you need without hurting anyone

  25. how about we cut back on take home vehicles for certain employees, especially DPW, especially when they don’t even live in or around town. let’s be honest with ourselves when was the last time you ever saw DPW respond after hours or on weekends in lakewood. this could save the taxpayers alot of money this is less mileage, wear/tear, and less fuel in these vehicles and last we won’t have to replace these vehicles as often as we do. see there are other areas that we can cut to try and save peoples jobs and pay, you just need to use that thing we call a brain and put them in place.

  26. To all you people calling for the township committee to give up theis stipend…. First of all they work way more than 20 hours a year. They spend countless hours pre and post meetings to set up agendas, meet with and talk to various professionals, and field calls from the voters. In addittion, Langert is worth way more than that with the savings he has accomplished. He could do a lot more if he wasn’t tied down by outside influences. Go Steve! We are behind you 100%.

  27. no 27 Its called a contract!! That’s who says! You see this is an example of socialism. If you have an inferior ins.plan so should the next guy. No I say god bless our township workers esp dpw. most make un der 32,000 a year. its a shame. I say give them good insurance. and those of you who say a worker should not get good insurance,your’e hurting the fabric of america. All Workers deserve and should have good health insurance. Just because some small business can bully there employees does not mean we should follow suit!!!!

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