Town business will continue
in absence of administrator
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — In the absence of a township administrator, Phil Del Turco, Manalapan’s chief financial officer, has been appointed the certifying agent for the township.
At the same time they appointed Del Turco to that position, Township Committee members said they would not name an interim administrator, but will begin the process that will eventually result in the hiring of someone to fill that job.
The administrator’s position has been vacant since April 30 when James Devereaux, who was Manalapan’s administrator for nine years, resigned for personal reasons.
Meeting in an emergency executive session on the evening of May 5, municipal officials determined it was necessary to appoint a certifying agent for the township, Mayor Drew Shapiro said.
Shapiro and committee members Bill Scherer, Mary Cozzolino and Beth Ward voted yes to Del Turco’s appointment. Committeewoman Rebecca Aaronson abstained.
"[The certifying agent] deals with the police and firemen’s retirement system, the public employees retirement system and the New Jersey Health Benefits Program," said Shapiro. "It was apparent, since this does deal with the finance aspects of employee health and retirement benefits, that Mr. Del Turco should be the certifying agent."
Shapiro said an interim administrator will not be named. He said it was decided that Robert Casey, who has been coming to Manalapan every Wednesday to help out in the administrator’s, would be asked if he would work an extra day. Casey is the former Freehold Borough municipal administrator.
"He has agreed," said Shapiro. "He is willing to give an extra day and he is also going to help in the search process for a new administrator."
Casey started working in Manalapan about three years ago as an independent contractor at a fee of $50 per hour, according to Assistant Township Administrator Tara Lovrich.
Shapiro said Casey works with the administration on various tasks.
The mayor said Manalapan will advertise for a new administrator.
Shapiro said Lovrich and several other people who work in the administration office, along with township clerk RoseAnn Weeden and other department heads will keep the township fully functioning until a new administrator is hired.
"You’re not going to see a disruption," the mayor said. "We haven’t missed a beat. I was told everything is on track. It’s business as usual."
Commenting on Devereaux’s decision to leave his position in Manalapan, Shapiro said, "He came to us and said he was resigning for personal reasons. He is the only one that can say" what those personal reasons are.
Devereaux was not available for comment.