Herald & lantern 31 August '83

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County Pay Hike Held Up “ Over Who’s in Charge Auction

By E.J. DUFFY COURT HOUSE - Since January, some 45 union employes in the county Superior Court system have been working without a contract and it doesn't look like they’ll have a new labor agreement anytime soon. The county freeholders decided last week not to sign a pending contract with Local 1983 of the Civil and Public Employe of Cape May County because they question a clause in the pact that designates the Superior Court assignment judge as the workers' employer. According to County Surrogate W. Robert Hentges, the employes were in line for an average five percent salary hike, retroactive to January. But they won’t see anything more in their paychecks until the courts decide who is their boss or the freeholders relent and ratify the contract. “The contract says that the assignment judge is the employer of all the employes,” Hentges sard of the offending clause he and the other county constitutional officers (Sheriff Beech N. Fox and County Clerk Angela F. Pulvino) have challenged. Financed and supported by the County Officers' Association of New Jersey, the three local officials contested the contract clause and the assignment judge’s authority in Superior Court. A Mercer County judge was assigned the

case in December, but it has yet to be heard. "IT’S APPARENT that the courts don’t want to decide the issue," Hentges observed, noting that a decision in favor of the constitutional officers could Weaken judicial authority over court house workers throughout the state. “This goes back to the last contract," he recalled. He said Superior Court Assignment Judge Philip A. Gruccio maintained then that he was the workers’ employer despite the local officials' protest that state law gave them that authority. The freeholders ratified the earlier agreement on the advice of their labor relations lawyer, the surrogate added. "My opinion is, personally, I don't want that contract held up," he continued. "I hope the freeholders sign it. The employes, damn it, deserve it." FREEHOLDER GERALD THORNTON agrees but, he said, "as far as I’m concerned, it should not be signed..." If the freeholders ratify the pact, he argued, Gruccio might insist that their signatures attest to their approval of the clause that designates him as the employer. “There’s a lot of significance to that particular clause,’’ said Thornton." It's a matter of who has the duties and responsibilities and who

has the authority. "You can't have the judiciary issuing orders that usurp the authority of the elected officials." Gruccio was on vacation until yesterday and could not be reached for direct comment before the Herald and Lantern deadline. Charles McCaffery, court administrator, was in touch with Gruccio about the contract issue Friday, however. McCaffery said the judge advised him that "neither he nor I arc in a position to comment on it" because of the court challenge to Gruccio’s authority.

STONE HARBOR - Resolutions were passed at the last Council meeting authorizing the sale by auction of two lots in the area of 122nd St. % The first sale will be held 10 a.m. Thursday. Sept. 8. in thf Council Chambers; the second sale and auction will be 1 p.m -Monday. Sept. 12, in the same quarters. Borough Clerk Marjorie Wohr will conduct the auctions, which call for 10 percent advance deposit. Complete details of the auctions will be advertised and all details may be had from the borough clerk.

Cape May Mayor Rips Unlicensed Newspapers

CAPE MAY - There are some "summer visitors" in this resort that Mayor Arthur Blomkvest would just as soon see leave. The mayor took off after newspaper vending machines at city council's work session Monday, claiming .three-quarters don’t have mercantile licenses. "We don’t want them here," said Blomkvest. “They are just brought in for the summer and take away business from local shops thaf operate yearround. "I don’t see why we have to put up with this," he said. “I don’t see why we don’t just take the damned

things up to the public works and get rid of them.'' City Manager Fred Coldreh reported that the problem of unlicensed guest houses and apartments seem to be growing and appealed to the public to report them. "People go to great trouble to meet the standards required," he said. "And those staying here are entitled to clean, safe places to stay." He urged persons knowing of unlicensed or unsanitary places to call him at city hall. The number is 884-8411. Coldren also announced that city beaches will be open through Sept. 17.

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THE SHOPS OF (Hartu'ttU'r’fi Square

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In the Nine Uncommon Shops and

Restaurant of Carpenter's Square

OPEN DAILY

10 A.M.-10 P.M. '31 Perry Street — Cape May

^ '.If'

DELLAS STORES

KNOWN FOR VALUES

HOME OF BRAND NAME MERCHANDISE

•CATALINA* WEEKENDERS 5 Colors To Choose From

•WHITE STAG* SUNDOWN VALOURS 3 Colors To Choose From

•JANTZEN* SCOTCH TIMBERS 4 Colors To Choose From

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LADIES

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Infants Outerwear And Snowear •Children Quiltey-Twin Togs ; Free Lance

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CAPE MAY CITY - 384-4568 I N. CAPE MAY - 886-2889 WASHINGTON MALL AT DECATUR 1 BAYSHORE RD. & FERRY

NORTH CAPE MAY

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