Middle Bids Farewell to Long-Serving Administrator

COURT HOUSE — Something happened at the Middle Township Committee meeting Jan. 20 that doesn’t happen very often, if ever —refreshments were served.
At the conclusion of regular business Tuesday evening, township Solicitor James Pickering and other township officials were practically force-feeding those in attendance with cake and ice cream and coffee, whether they were still trying to keep to their New Year’s resolution diets or not.
Why, you might ask, were township officials behaving thusly?
They were doing what all of us do when we’re trying to say farewell to trusted colleague and good friend who is calling it quits. They threw a retirement party.
Although he still has a few days left in the office, James Alexis attended his final meeting as Middle Township’s top administrator that night after 30 years of service.
“It was great. It was a big surprise,” Alexis said of the festivities.
Mayor F. Nathan Doughty, Deputy Mayor Susan DeLanzo and Committeeman Stephen Barry also presented Alexis with a plaque in appreciation for his dedicated service to the township.
Sam Kelly, of Swainton, a long-time member of the township taxpayers group and frequent opponent of Alexis, thanked the retiring administrator for his professionalism even though the two always didn’t see eye-to-eye.
Alexis started with the township as a zoning board member in 1977. He subsequently served on township committee, the board of health and worked in the Public Works Department before taking the administrator position in 1996.
“I’m leaving with mixed emotions after having been with the township for so long,” Alexis told the Herald. “But I’m leaving the township in capable hands.”
Those hands belong to Mark Mallett, a Court House resident and former casino executive who was named Alexis’ successor in November.
“Mark has hit the ground with his feet running,” Alexis said.
Alexis warned, however, that municipalities throughout the state and the nation are facing times ahead due to the ongoing worldwide financial crisis.
“Mark’s experience in finance and management will be a great asset to the township during these tough times,” Alexis added.
When asked if he was really retiring or planning a move into another career, Alexis said he was “really retiring…at least for now.”
“Working 60 or 70 hours a week for my whole career, I need to just kick back for a while,” Alexis said. “There are a bunch of things I need to do at the house and my wife and I are planning a vacation.”
So Alexis might be seen in coming months with a paint bucket atop a ladder at his Court House home or wearing a Hawaiian shirt and packing luggage into the car with Gerry, his wife of 43 years.
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com