Grant Recalled from Retirement by Freeholders

COURT HOUSE – Retirement was short-lived for Edmund J. Grant Jr. Work resumes May 18 just down the hall from his former office.
After 31 years of public service, Grant set sail into the sunset March 1. Then, on May 8, Grant was recalled to duty by consent of freeholders as director of operations, to perform the daily tasks of county administrator. He starts his new job with his old employer May 18.
The top administrative post has been vacant since the resignation of Stephen O’Connor, who went to South Jersey Economic Development District. Elizabeth Bozzelli has been named deputy administrator in the interim, having transferred from the Department of Aging and Disability, which she headed many years.
Vacant may not be the correct term, since Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton has been putting in 50-hour weeks in an attempt to get the job done.
Thornton told the Herald on May 8 he “reached out to him (Grant) as he vacationed in Florida” and asked if he would be willing to return to the place he left earlier this year.
“I spoke to the board and they realized we needed somebody immediately who was familiar with the operation of this county government,” said Thornton. Called in the Sunshine State, Grant “was receptive and the (freeholder) board is happy,” said Thornton. “We need that continuity,” added Thornton.
Grant will “probably” remain in his new post for a year, maybe less. His salary will be $92,000, Thornton confirmed.
“He will have the duties and responsibilities of the administrator, just not the title,” Thornton added.
Thornton, who had assumed the title of freeholder director in January, had witnessed the departure in relatively short order of Grant, O’Connor, and Deputy Clerk Roxanne Catarcio, who retired. They collectively had vast knowledge of county operations.
According to a release when Grant retired, he is “A self-proclaimed ‘numbers guy and innovator.’ He left behind “a legacy of sound financial procedures and management. CFO since 1995, Grant has been at the helm for 17 county budgets crafting and keeping a close eye on $100+ million annual budgets. During his tenure as CFO the county has maintained a high level of financial stability resulting in stable taxes, clean audits and one of the highest bond ratings.”
In 2004 Grant implemented the P-Card Program in county government which eliminated the costly paper intensive purchase order system for routine purchases. This innovative program brought the efficiency of credit card type purchasing with the all the controls needed for governmental purchasing. The program saves approximately $750,000- a year and generates rebates of over $50,000- annually.
Grant served the citizens of Wildwood as mayor and council president (1986-1994) bringing his financial training, experience and insights to the governing body there. He is credited with being the point person on the Wildwood Convention Center Authority creation and its eventual construction. He had previously served as Wildwood’s Assistant Comptroller/Treasurer from 1980 until joining the ranks of county government in October 1981.
During his tenure as County Purchasing Agent (1986-1994) Grant was founder and director of the Cape May County Cooperative Purchasing Organization which offered bulk savings to municipalities through shared purchases.
Grant’s nationwide colleagues considered him a leader and innovator in the field of government purchasing and elected him President of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Inc. for a one year term beginning July 2009 to oversee NIGP affairs and as their key ambassador nationally and internationally.
“I have been blessed to be able to do what I enjoy and the good fortune to cross paths with some very special co-workers and leadership. I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life which hopefully will be equally as rewarding and focused on family, friends and sun,” he stated in the release.
County Engineer Dale Foster opined, on Grant’s March departure that gone would be “the Foster-Grant Team.” Now that team seems alive once again.