Who Benefits When Middle Twp. Loses Connie Mahon?

To the Editor: 
Over a month ago, I sent out a press release calling for my colleagues on Middle Township Committee to start discussions on a contract extension for Middle Township Administrator Connie Mahon. My rationale was that if we failed to act before Mahon’s contract expired early next year, other towns would come calling for this hard-working, well-respected manager and leader.
The rest, as they say, is history. The mayor and deputy mayor refused to even consider the contract extension. Even when it was clear that another town had made our administrator an offer, Michal Clark and Jeffrey DeVico refused to discuss a counter offer. I went on my own to Connie Mahon, who told me she would stay for the same money she was making now. She just wanted to know that her job was secure and she had the support of Township Committee. To the last, the mayor and deputy mayor refused to lift a finger to prevent our most important employee from reluctantly walking away from all the good work we have accomplished in the past four years.
In searching for a motive for this negligent failure to act in the best interests of our town, a Latin phrase comes to mind. Qui bono? Literally translated it means who benefits?
The question demands an answer, as we search for some meaning and motive in an act (or failure to act) that makes no sense. Not if your mission as an elected official is to act in the best interest of our town.
Why refuse to open a contract discussion?
Why refuse to even consider making a counter offer?
Why refuse to even contemplate a three-year extension, already acceptable to Mahon, that would have given our town stability and proven leadership for the foreseeable future?
Qui bono? Who benefits?
Certainly not Township Committee, as we lose an expert in municipal government and budgeting, along with any positive momentum for real change in the short term.
Who benefits?
Certainly not our hard working staff, who see yet another key employee walk away from Middle Township without one finger being lifted by the majority on committee to remind them how valuable they are and that we are willing to fight to keep them on behalf of our residents.
Who benefits?
Not the folks who visit Town Hall every day, who embraced Connie’s hands on, open door management style and her authentic commitment to solving their problems.
Who benefits?
It can’t be the taxpayers. In all four years of Mahon’s tenure, the tax levy for municipal services was never raised, services were improved and enhanced, our bond rating improved, our debt levels were reduced, our sewer billing compliance rates have never been higher and our end of year tax delinquencies have never been lower.
Who benefits?
Not our hopes for a brighter future, as several large, ambitious and complicated projects are about to kick off, we lose the person most responsible for making them a reality and with the greatest understanding of what it will take to get these projects over the finish line.
Who benefits?
I remain perplexed by Clark and DeVico’s unwillingness to at least discuss this all-important decision. It seems obvious they must have another plan for the future of our town. A plan they have not seen fit to share with me, or more importantly, with the voters of Middle Township. In time we shall see who benefits. From my seat on the dais, I see no way this failure of leadership can possibly benefit the good people of our town.
The author is a Middle Township Committee member.