Township names an intermim administrator and steps up its search for a permanent replacement.
By:Brian Shappell
A familiar face should help ease the tran
sition between the outgoing township admin
istrator and the incoming replacement.
The Township Committee officially
named Fred Jahn as the township’s interim
administrator Monday. Mr. Jahn has been
working on the township’s Old School reno
vation project since September as building
manager.
He will temporarily assume the adminis
trator position June 2. He will replace Chris
tine Smeltzer, who will step town from the
position after 10 years. Ms. Smeltzer will be
leaving in early June to begin work as ad
ministrator in Hopewell Township.
“He was familiar with the staff,” Ms.
Smeltzer said of Mr. Jahn. “It was a natural
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move to suggest (him).”
Mayor Alan Danser agreed that
Mr. Jahn is a good choice.
“Fred has been working for us
and doing a good job; we’re lucky
to have someone who has already
been on the staff in some capaci
ty,” he said. “He comes with good
recommendations from other
townships he has served. I’m con
fident he will do a good job.”
Mr. Jahn served as an adminis
trator for the township of Freehold
for 25 years before retiring and
working on a part-time basis.
“I am glad to have the opportu
nity to work with Cranbury,” said
Mr. Jahn. “We’ll try to keep the
ship rolling.”
Mr. Jahn also is an associate of
the company currently assisting
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Cranbury in its search for a perma
nent administrator, Jersey Profes
sional Management. The company,
which provides temporary employ
ees, aids in the setup of administra
tor positions and management con
sulting, has been in business for
approximately 12 years. The com
pany also was involved in bringing
Ms. Smeltzer to Cranbury 10 years
ago.
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“We make sure that we find
the unique characteristics and
needs of the town prior to search
ing for the candidates,” said Dan
Mason, president of Jersey Profes
sional Management.
Mr. Mason said Jersey Profes
sional is completely nonpartisan
during its search process.
“We say it loudly — we have
no political connection,” Mr. Ma
son said. “We don’t care who gets
hired as long as they are a strong
candidate.”
To further ensure that a
“strong” candidate is hired by the
township, Jersey Professional
Management gives a type of satis
faction guarantee. Should the em
ployee leave their post, the group
restarts the process at no charge.
In the coming months, 50 to
100 qualified applicants are ex
pected to vie for the Cranbury po
sition, according to Mr. Mason.