PATERSON - 'Retired' pensioner and current Paterson mayor Jose 'Joey' Torres doesn't pay a dime toward his health insurance, according to a Paterson Press report.
Torres, elected to office in June, receives an annual $68,000 pension from cumulative service time with jobs in Jackson Township, the City of Paterson and the Paterson Housing Authority, the report said. Paterson policy offers retirees who worked at least 25 years for the city with free health benefits.
Though Torres also receives a $119,000 salary as mayor, the state treasury department and city classify him as 'retired,' city law director Domenick Stampone told The Paterson Press.
Councilman Andrey Sayegh criticized the mayor for collecting free health insurance, which typically costs up to $8,400 per year for an 'active employee.'
'He works for the city, he can't be retired,' Sayegh said. 'If Derek Jeter decided to come back and play, he would no longer be retired.'
James Kleimann may be reached at jkleimann@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jameskleimann. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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