HIGHTSTOWN: Administrator job description changing

By Doug Carman, Staff Writer
   HIGHTSTOWN — The borough is still trying to hone in on a candidate for its long-vacant borough administrator role nearly two months after it stopped accepting applications for the job, Mayor Steve Kirson said.
   Mayor Kirson, who is the borough’s acting administrator until it hires someone to fill the vacant position, said a committee selected to nominate the candidate is holding onto 30 resumes reflecting a widely varying set of backgrounds and qualifications. So varying, in fact, that the borough has decided to redo the job description for the position so that It can better select a candidate.
   "We took a step back before we took a step forward," Mayor Kirson said of the selection process.
   The seat had been open since late March, when Herbert Massa resigned in order to become the interim school business administrator for the West Long Branch Public School District. He announced his resignation earlier that month, compelling the borough to advertise for the position.
   Applications were accepted through March 31.
   "We’re pretty impressed with the quality and quantity of resumes received," Mayor Kirson said.
   Mayor Kirson said he hoped the new job descriptions would be worked on within the next two weeks. After that, he anticipated a new borough administrator would be hired during the summer.
   "Since we’re so pleased with the current interim administrator on the job right now, who’s working so cheap," Mayor Kirson joked.
   When Mr. Massa held the part-time position, he earned $50,000 per year working 20 hours per week, though his job included no benefits. He had held the office beginning January of 2009.