Paterson – days before leaving its city position, business administrator Kathleen Long has re -assigned her two aides outside the city hall.
RI – The determination captured the members of the municipal council by surprise, and they asked if it was careful to leave the two business assistants – Lydia Rosario and Jennifer Hirschmanner – at a time when high work would be empty.
Mayor Andre Sayegh has not yet announced where it stands in finding Long replacement. The long announcement of city officials in December that it was leaving in late January to get a job in the State Department of Community Affairs.
Councilor Luis Velez said the new time -the assistant assistant business administrators was worrying, that from January 31 would be Long’s last day.
The story goes on below the photo gallery.
Velez said the mayor should intervene to prevent changes.
“We don’t have people left with any experience there,” Velez said, asking why Long would make movements. “If you are leaving the city, go to peace. Do not harm. “
Assistants were sent to the Fire Division, Economic Development
Sayegh did not respond when asked about comment on the situation. Long said the tasks performed by Rosario and Hirschmanner were re -set for other city employees. Both assistants were given “special tasks,” Long said.
Rosario will work in the Division of Fire, overseeing the displacement of administrative duties from firefighters in civilians, processing the salary list, creating a grant tracking system and dealing with other tasks, Long said.
Hirschmanner will work in the Economic Development Department. Long said its tasks will include addressing the backward payments to professional service providers, which have forced the cancellation of some regulation board meetings.
Long said the tasks were temporary, for six months to one year. But she admitted that they could be prolonged if needed. Long said that applicants to fill business aid positions would be approved for the re -setting of the helper.
“These are very important projects and we are using some of our current staff to make them happen,” Long said.
Mike Jackson, the president of the union representing Paterson’s supervisors – including Rosario and Hirschmanner – said he plans to file a complaint of contract violations about re -determination.
Council members react
Advisor Maritza Davila, chairman of the Finance Committee, said she had just learned about Rosario and Hirschmanner five minutes before the Press contacted on Thursday about the movements.
Davila said no one from the Sayegh administration had informed her of the changes, but she noted that her work as a legislator includes the city’s daily operations.
Counselor Michael Jackson, who has nothing to do with the president of the union, said Rosario and Hirschmanner have treated a heavy workload in the business administrator office and that their movement made no sense.
Rosario and Hirschmanner refused to comment on the situation.
Long begins work for the state on February 10 and will treat special projects as a $ 135,000 -salary government representative. She has made $ 160,000 as Patterson’s business administrator.
In a memorandum for the administration staff, Long said she would work in Paterson a day a week in her state role. She also said that Sayegh would meet the role as Paterson’s main operating officer until a temporary or permanent business administrator is elected.
In December, Sayegh Chief of Staff Habib Kader also left his work in the city hall. He and the mayor had gone through an increasing number of disputes in recent months. Sayegh said he fired his headquarters, but Kader said he resigned.
The mayor has appointed his public information officer, Dacil Tilo, as the Provisional Chief of Staff.
