Paterson officials are upset a former mayor received nearly $74,000 in severance pay when he left office in 2010.Former Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres tells The Record newspaper senior staff members provided the necessary special waivers to cash in on unused vacation and sick time.

Torres says he accrued the time during his eight years as mayor and 12 as councilman. He says the "demands of the job were so great," he couldn't find time for vacations.

Councilman William McKoy tells the newspaper Torres should have sought approval from the City Council.

City officials have not yet provided documents showing how many days Torres was paid for.

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