New Part-Time Administrator for Dennis

DENNISVILLE—Township Committee appointed a part-time administrator at its Oct. 8 meeting, voting 3-2 to hire Tom Shannon of Jersey Professional Management to provide administrative services. Committee members Mayor Gene Glembocki, Frank Germanio, and Brian Teefy voted in favor of the appointment, with John Murphy and Al DiCicco voting to oppose.
According to the hiring resolution, the appointment is for a “temporary acting administrator and management consultant.” There will also be a review of the township’s administrative needs with the assistance of Richard Deaney, vice-president for South Jersey for Jersey Professional Management, a temporary employee consulting service, located in Cranford.
The appointment, which carries a cost of $17,500, covers the period of Oct. 9 through Dec. 31.
The resolution drew fire from the public, prior to the vote, with former Mayor Robert Grace questioning the wisdom of making an appointment without interviewing any other prospective applicants.
“I advise you not to vote on this tonight. You said at the last meeting that there were two vendors being considered. You promised there would be public discussion of this,” Grace told the committee. “Look for another vendor. Who decided to go with just one firm?”
Germanio, who had moved to put the resolution on the night’s agenda, defended the decision. “One of the groups can’t offer services,” he said. “I’ve asked around. There are no other local vendors. I feel comfortable with them. I forwarded their contact information to the other committee members so they could contact the vendor (before tonight’s vote).”
Germanio also cited a need for urgency to act.
“We have two employee unions and the administrator will serve as hearing officer in personnel matters,” Germanio said. “Ideally, he’ll work three days per week. It’s cheaper for a part-time manager to handle these new challenges than to bring in a lawyer.”
In addition, the administrator will conduct an assessment of the township’s day-to-day operations. In early December, the company will prepare a report.
“It will tell us where we can cut spending, channel energy to employee matters,” Germanio said. “It will show us how we can reduce liability and improve services.”
“This committee just cut workers pay and now you hire someone for $17,500,” Grace said. “Employees are the township’s best asset. You don’t kick them around and then bring in an outside manager.”
“I think the timing of this is bad,” Murphy said in voting against the resolution. “We have other business we need to finish up first. I look forward to a shared services agreement with another municipality.”
Casting his vote to approve the measure, Glembocki reiterated that the position is a temporary one. “Maybe this will lead to shared services in 2014,” he said.
Shannon has served New Jersey Municipalities for over 30 years in a variety of senior management positions, including Municipal Manager of Hillsborough Township, Princeton Borough, and the Township of Westfield. In addition, he is a licensed Professional Engineer, Construction Official and Professional Planner. He’s worn a number of governmental hats working at times as a Public Works Director, Construction Official, Township Engineer, and overseer of Municipal Utilities.
Working for Jersey Professional Management consultant for the past eight years, Shannon has performed consulting studies to improve municipal library services, reorganize Public Works operations, create regional court services, evaluate the performance of water and wastewater utilities, and develop county wide animal control services. He has served as an Interim Municipal Manager, Public Works Director, and Utilities Director.
A call to township hall on Oct. 11 confirmed that Shannon is already on the job. In addition, he should soon become a familiar face at township committee meetings.