ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The dismantling of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission continued this week with a second round of layoffs.
The commission sent layoff notices on Tuesday to all 33 of its clerical employees. Last week, the commission notified 115 of its 144 casino
The layoffs are the result of a casino deregulation bill passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie. The move is designed to save the casinos millions of dollars in regulatory costs and make Atlantic City more business-friendly to the casino industry.
Many of the functions of the casino commission are being eliminated or transferred to the Division of Gaming Enforcement, which is part of the state Attorney General's Office. Part of the savings is to be used for a fund to better market Atlantic City nationwide.
The Casino Control Commission had 260 employees before the layoff notices started going out last week.
Even the size of the board of commissioners is dwindling. The five-member commission is down to three members after Wednesday's resignation of Commissioner Michael Epps.
Assemblyman Vincent Polistina, R-Atlantic, said the commission's board should be permanently reduced to three members, particularly now that regulatory changes are drastically reducing the size of the agency. He has introduced legislation to do that.
"The commission was operating with only four, and with its reduced responsibilities, it certainly doesn't need more than three members," he said. "At a time when we are dealing with layoffs at the agency, there is no reason to continue these two patronage positions and their $125,000 salary and health and pension benefits."
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