Hudson County, N.J., ordinance would raise fire marshal's pay 31.5% and elections clerk's 19.6%, retroactive to July

First reported by Hudson TV

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Hudson County commissioners are set to introduce an ordinance Thursday that would give two county positions raises of about 20% and 30%, backdated to July 1, according to the county’s resolutions packet.

The ordinance amends Ordinance No. 489-8-2025, the multi-year salary ordinance the board approved last year for certain county offices and positions. It would set these yearly salaries “effective July 1, 2026 and retroactive to that date”:

• County fire marshal: $84,618 to $111,272, an increase of $26,654, or 31.5%.
• Clerk of the Board of Elections: $117,964 to $141,118, an increase of $23,154, or 19.6%.

Together, that’s $49,808 more a year.

The Law Department’s fact sheet in the packet says only that “the salaries of two of the positions must be amended,” and that state law requires the board to approve such increases by ordinance. It lists no dollar amount and no funding source. County Counsel Alberico De Pierro’s name appears in the approval-as-to-form block.

What the county says

Asked why the two positions are being adjusted now and how the amounts were set, county spokesperson Mark Cygan said in an email shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday that “the salaries were set by the department directors for each position.” The fire marshal falls under the Department of Roads and Public Property, and the clerk falls under the Board of Elections, he said. “The salary increases are in line with similar positions in counties throughout New Jersey,” Cygan wrote. He didn’t name the counties used for comparison.

The ordinance says “all other aspects of Ordinance 489-8-2025 remain in place including, but not limited to, the increase schedule.” Asked whether that schedule’s increases would apply on top of the new salaries, Cygan said, “No, it is not on top of the 2025 ordinance.”

Asked whether either job’s duties changed, Cygan sent the fire marshal’s job duties and said he’s waiting on the clerk’s duties from the Board of Elections. Hudson TV will update this story when those arrive.

The ordinance is listed for introduction, or first reading. Under state law, it needs a public hearing and a second vote at a later meeting before it can take effect.

Raises for county officials have been an issue in this year’s commissioner races. At a June budget hearing, District 4 candidate Aaron Weiner, an independent, challenged the commissioners to repeal the raises they approved in 2025, Hudson County View reported. Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) said he voted against the 2025 ordinance because it covered multiple years. He said raises should be considered annually, after the budget is adopted.

Also on Thursday’s agenda

• A vehicle-repair contract that has more than doubled. The county would add $50,000 to its open-ended contract with A.B. Undercar Repair, Inc. of Jersey City, N.J., for maintenance of county vehicles. That would bring it to $435,000, more than twice the original $200,000. This would be the seventh addition. The contract runs from March 12, 2024 to March 11, 2028, and the packet shows a remaining balance of $10,157.61 before the new money. The county cites “unexpected demand.”
• More open-ended contract increases. Trees Now, Inc. would go from $549,975 to $799,975 for tree and plant materials, with a $0 balance left. Automotive Brake of Hackensack, N.J., would go from $108,500 to $308,500 for auto parts. M & G Auto Parts of Teaneck, N.J., would go from $114,000 to $328,000. The caucus agenda lists M & G at $328,500, but the line items in the resolution add up to $328,000.
• $724,700 plumbing contract. It goes to William J. Guarini, Inc. of Jersey City for two years of plumbing services and capital improvements. The county received two replies.
• One bidder for groundskeeping. Clarke Moynihan Landscaping & Construction, LLC of Andover, N.J., would get a one-year contract of up to $240,000, with an option for four more years. It was the only proposal the county received.
• $670,000 in opioid settlement money. It would go to three providers for Nov. 1, 2026 through Oct. 31, 2027: BME Strategies ($200,000, provider capacity assessment), “SCG” ($260,000, public education and awareness campaign) and North Hudson Community Action Corporation ($210,000, outreach). The county received 20 proposals and found five non-responsive. The resolution identifies the $260,000 awardee only as “SCG.” It says the county has accepted $2,212,277.93 from the national settlement so far.
• River Road land for a road widening. The county would accept 61,461 square feet at 8200 River Road in North Bergen, N.J., from Riverview Development, LLC, at no cost, to widen River Road. The county Planning Board made the dedication a condition of approving the developer’s project, which the resolution describes as 384 apartments with 425 parking spaces.
• Climate lawsuits. A resolution added to the regular agenda would put the board on record opposing any federal or state law granting fossil fuel companies immunity from claims over the cost of extreme weather and climate change, to protect the county’s access to the courts.
• Overnight parking in county lots. A new ordinance up for introduction would set rules for public overnight parking at county-owned facilities. The agenda doesn’t give details.
• Client choice pantry bids rejected. The county would throw out all four proposals it received Sept. 9 to run a “client choice” food pantry. The packet says vendors weren’t given enough information, which “became apparent when reviewing the wide range submitted in their budgets.” It plans to rebid with revised specifications.

The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. All 22 resolutions are on the consent agenda, which the board passes in one vote unless a commissioner or resident asks to pull an item.

Hudson TV asks: Should county salary changes like these come with a public explanation of how the amounts were set? Share your take in the comments.

Want to know if you’re overpaying on property taxes in Hudson County? Check your address at gardenstate.ai/property-tax