Politics & Government

Poll: Should Codey's Position Have Been Cut?

Borough Council voted to consolidate positions of borough and assistant administrator.

The Madison Borough Council , firing Ray Codey as the top administrator in the Rose City.

Codey has served the borough for five years, garnering and affectionate words from those he worked with along the way.

Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto, who made the motion to remove Codey, said the combined jobs would result in substantial savings for residents.

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Codey's position will be merged with the position of assistant borough administrator, a position held by Jim Burnet. Burnet will remain to serve in the merged role. 

Burnet's position was created less than two years ago. It was approved by a 5-1 vote. Two members of the current council who voted to fire Codey, Tsukamoto and Don Links, were on that council and voted in favor of creating the position. Current Mayor Robert Conley, who adamantly opposed firing Codey, also voted for the position's creation as a councilman.

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The move will save the borough money: In 2011, Codey was the highest-paid borough employee, earning more than $154,000; Burnet earned $95,000.

Those who voted for the measure cited the savings, including Republican Bob Landrigan, who said “[S]trictly looking at job descriptions, the borough administrator’s duties  are covered by the assistant borough administrator, and then some.”

Conley and those who voted against the move said it was about more than that. Conley said the move to remove Codey was a performance-related matter and had no place in the budget process. 

What's your opinion? Should Codey have been fired and the job's role folded into that of Burnet's for cost savings? Or should Codey have been retained his role? Vote in our poll and tell us what you think in the comments.


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