Subject: The Sandman big raise: Larry, I recently read in US News that the average salary raise this year will be 3 percent. The fact that the secretary as you report is likely to get a raise of 4 percent which is what other town hall employees are getting makes that a pretty good deal. You have pointed out that every year our employees whether at town hall or working at the school get raises that are above average in terms of the increase in the cost of living and in terms of salary increase in the private work place. The 16.6 percent raise for Sandman this year and then a 7 percent raise the next year and that one is followed by a 6.6 percent raise is crazy. Your claim that this is the reward for being a loyal member of Mullica's Republican Club makes one wonder about those who if not members of the Club are Republicans. Your "HUH" moments just fail to capture the anger this type of raise, that is more than five times the average salary raise this year in the nation should cause. Your exposing of this type of activity may be what led to theft of your laptop. Angry in Mullica

RESPONSE: You certainly are not the first one to suggest some kind of linkage, regarding the theft ...to Mullica Republicans interest in shutting down the GadFly blog. The Sandman raises are obscene and they seem a slap in the face, not just to taxpayers, but to other Town Hall employees who make an effort to take update classes to more knowledgeably serve the community. Sandman who has been in the position for over three years ...has taken NONE of the required classes to get a certification in that time for the position of Code Enforcement Offical....this would make him deserving of a nominal raise, HOW? Yep, another 'HUH' moment.