Jackson Township, NJ – Jackson Township Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn authorized a never-before-seen overtime pay for Department of Public Works employees during the snowstorm, allowing some workers to earn as much as $135 per hour, according to a township memorandum.
The authorization came from Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn and was outlined in a Jan. 21 memo from DPW Superintendent Shawn Bolinsky to all public works employees. The memo approved double-time pay plus an additional $75 per hour for snow plowing operations, with a minimum four-hour commitment.
At this time, township officials have not disclosed the cost of the snowstorm preparation and cleanup which is anticipated to be one of the most costly in Jackson Township history.
Those bonuses could be illegal under the township’s form of government.
Mayors in New Jersey generally cannot unilaterally give employee bonuses, as employee compensation typically requires municipal council approval and adherence to salary ordinances. While some municipalities have used, or abused, sick/vacation leave payouts as bonuses, state reports indicate such practices often violate legal, budgetary, and oversight regulations.
Any increase in compensation, including bonuses, generally requires a formal ordinance passed by the governing body (council), not just a mayoral decision.
One insider told Shore News Network that Mayor Kuhn expressed her concerns over 2026 being an election year for the bonus to entice workers to stay on the job and clear snow from the town’s streets, at all costs.
The compensation applied to DPW employees who assisted with snow removal during the storm and was intended to ensure adequate staffing, according to a memo released by the township.
Employees were required to register by a specified deadline, after which the opportunity could be extended to other township employees at the same $75 per hour rate, the memo states.
Township officials said the storm produced a record turnout for snow removal operations.
In addition to DPW overtime, the township spent tens of thousands of dollars on external snow-removal contractors, according to officials familiar with the response.
The memo notes that the enhanced pay structure is not limited to a single storm and may remain in effect throughout the year on an as-needed basis for other operational demands, including snow removal, leaf collection, and emergency services approved by the mayor.
The stakes are high this year for Mayor Kuhn as she faces nearly insurmountable odds in her attempt to win re-election in November, putting township resources and staffing into full panic mode, despite her low approval ratings in the community and her ties to influential Lakewood developers and investors.
Some residents and local observers have questioned the overall cost of the response, citing the combination of contractor expenses and elevated overtime rates for township employees. The township has not released a total dollar figure for the storm-related spending.
- DPW employees received double time plus $75 per hour for snow removal
- Some workers earned up to $135 per hour during the storm
- The pay structure may be used for future emergency operations