Bozzelli’s County Administrator Appointment Splits Freeholder Board

CREST HAVEN – A 3-2 split vote by Cape May County freeholders over the three-year appointment of Elizabeth Bozzelli as clerk of the board and county administrator was the most contentious meeting in recent history Oct. 23.
The usually staid, unified, all-Republican board’s austerity was shattered by Freeholder William Morey who sought to table the first resolution on the afternoon’s agenda, that of appointing Bozzelli.
Freeholder E. Marie Hayes seconded the motion, but Director Gerald Thornton asked for a vote on the motion to table, and that was defeated 3-2, with Freeholders Morey and Hayes voting yes, and Freeholders Thornton, Desiderio and Pierson voting no.
Earlier in the meeting, the board lauded Ann Marie McMahon, director of Facilities and Services, who resigned to take an engineering position in the private sector to oversee an unspecified $180-million project. The board gave her a bouquet and a certificate of appreciation that lauded her work that included overseeing construction of the $37-million correctional center, libraries in several communities, upgrades to the County Park and Zoo, and many others.
McMahon was the fourth department head to resign or retire on short notice in a four-month period.
Others who have departed included former Chief Financial Officer Francine Springer, County Engineer Dale Foster, and Director of Operations Michael Laffey. None had mentioned any reasons for leaving county employment other than citing years of service.
Their departures seemed to be a component of the resentment by Morey and Hayes for Bozzellli’s appointment to the concurrent posts.
Morey asked that the appointment be postponed for two weeks so that options could be examined.
Hayes said that her mentor (Thornton) had always told her it was important that the jobs (clerk of the board and administrator) be held by two people since there was a great deal of power in one person holding both titles.
“I disagree with what you just said,” Thornton said in response.
Thornton recited some former clerks of the board, including Diane Rudolph and Kathrine Willis, as being persons who were central to the operation of the freeholders’ office, and who had performed the duties of county administrator, although without a formal title.
Morey noted that other employees had sought consideration for the administrator’s appointment.
After Bozzelli’s appointment was secured by affirmative votes from Thornton, Vice Director Leonard Desiderio and Jeffrey Pierson, the rear rows of the meeting room, which contained many county employees, broke into applause.
Bozzelli, after winning confirmation, read from a prepared statement in a voice that, at times, quivered.
“Ideally, I would have liked to have the support of all five freeholders but it is apparent by this vote that I do not. With two votes against me, questions will surely arise from this divided vote.
“Mr. Morey, you have made it very clear to me that you would not support me in this position so your vote was expected.
“However, I’ve been searching for well over a month since I was originally Rice-noticed (allowing personnel matters to be discussed in public) as to why; in particular, Ms. Hayes is against me beyond the stated reason of wanting me to be in an ‘acting’ capacity for one year for a job I have already been doing since 2012 without a formal title.
“In this position and with the responsibilities I have held and been held accountable for, I have worked in support of our Cape May County government and all of its complexities. I’ve worked well with all departments including those Ms. Hayes oversees. Any initiatives, staffing issues, accommodations, etc. have all been worked through and support positively and not one has she complained to me.
“Recent issues with four employees leaving county employment are now unfairly being blamed on me. The exit interviews surely tell a very different story.
“I have devoted my working life to Cape May County first being hired in 1981 at the age of 24. I’ve served under many freeholder boards and remain friends to this day with those who have left the county.
“The only reason that I feel Ms. Hayes is using this opportunity to publicly vote against me in a job I have been doing for six years is that in conjunction with the freeholder director and director of Human Resources, I have been directly involved in decisions to document, discipline and not move a family member, a county employee, to a fourth position.
“Ms. Hayes has requested this of us but we cannot do it yet again. While Ms. Hayes has supported the decision to hold other county employees accountable, she as an elected official and one of my superiors is retaliating against me for doing my job.
“The decisions I make on a daily basis are not easy. The employees of the county are wonderful to work with, but we do have issues, of course. This is not a perfect world, nowhere is but we do our best.
“I view the responsibilities and duties of this job as a gatekeeper for our tax dollars and for all taxpayers of Cape May County.
“I am very honored for the show of continued faith in and appreciation for what I have been doing for six years and now can continue doing every day across over 40 departments and divisions. Let’s move forward for the welfare of our employees and residents.”