Michael Donohue Named Interim Operations Director

CREST HAVEN – Michael Donohue announced March 4 that he retired as a Superior Court judge to return to private law practice and politics.
On May 19, freeholders approved Donohue, a former Cape May County Regular Republican chairman, as director of operations for an interim period. The resolution authorized a non-fair and open professional services agreement with Donohue, of the firm of Blaney, Karavan and Weinberg P.C.
The 3 p.m. caucus meeting, conducted through Zoom, was held in the absence of Vice Director Leonard Desiderio and Freeholder Will Morey. Both were reportedly on a conference call with Gov. Phil Murphy.
The resolution that named Donohue was approved by Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton and Freeholders E. Marie Hayes and Jeffrey Pierson.
The document noted that the county requires “a professional to perform the services generally and customarily performed by a County Administrator, as well as to assist in continuing Cape May County’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic.”
Elizabeth Bozzelli held the combined posts of administrator and clerk of the Board until May 13, when she announced her retirement.
Her retirement followed the May 12 freeholder vote on a resolution that authorized a separation agreement and release of all claims. Both Thornton and Desiderio voted against the resolution, which passed 3-2. No name was mentioned at that time.
Bozzelli announced her retirement the following day, in an email that stated her years with the county had “been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life having met and been given the opportunity to work with all of you. The county has been, and continues to be, very good to me, and for that, I am thankful.”
At the outset of the May 19 meeting, Thornton referred to Donohue as “acting administrator” and added that the board was “happy to have him aboard. He has all the expertise we need.”
The resolution referred to him as Judge Donohue, who has over two decades of experience as a municipal attorney. It continued that he was “retained by the county to provide legal services and guidance for the Cape May County Recovery Initiative, and has performed those services competently and demonstrated an ability to assess complex matters and provide timely advice and recommendations.”
“As senior counsel at the law offices of Blaney & Karavan P.C., Judge Donohue is fully qualified as a public contract professional services vendor and has satisfied all of the requirements of the pay-to-play law and regulations of the state…”
Donohue joins the county at a time when many employees work remotely, due to COVID-19, and await orders to from freeholders when they might return.
One of his first tasks will be to organize protocols, so that employees will know where they might safely work while maintaining safe distances from each other.
Donohue said he would try to put such protocols in a form that all could understand.
Donohue added he was “looking all over the country: to learn what other government agencies were doing to sort out the best practices.”