WEST WINDSOR: Hsueh selects new business administrator

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh has chosen Marlena Schmid, a Plainsboro native and former Cranford business administrator to replace Bob Hary, who recently retired, as the West Windsor business administrator, pending the approval of the Township Council.
   The council will vote on Ms. Schmid’s appointment at the opening of the July 9 meeting. If appointed, Ms. Schmid will be sworn in immediately and will start as business administrator the next day.A screening committee made up of Councilwoman Linda Geevers, Planning Board Chair Marvin Gardner, school board President Hemant Marathe and Parking Authority Chair Andy Lupo reviewed nearly 40 applications in less than a month.
   The committee interviewed the top five applicants and narrowed the choices to two. After considering the committee’s recommendations, Mayor Hsueh picked Ms. Schmid for the job, mainly because of her experience and her familiarity with the area.Ms. Schmid, who grew up in Plainsboro, was a business administrator for Cranford Township for 12 years after serving as an assistant business administrator for Princeton Borough. In September 2011, the Cranford Committee placed Ms. Schmid on a two-week administrative paid leave of absence. No explanations were given because the issue involved personnel.
   Mayor Hsueh said he and the screening committee agreed the circumstances under Ms. Schmid’s situation at Cranford most likely stemmed from political reasons.
   ”I talked to her and she said she still didn’t know the reason why she was let go – no one gave her a reason. They gave her a good deal and asked her to sign the papers,” said Mayor Hsueh. “She had legal representatives that worked it out, which was a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ kind of deal.”
   Ms. Schmid has a master’s degree in public administration.
   Coming from a committee form of government in Cranford, Ms. Schmid has been researching the mayor-council form of government that is currently in place in West Windsor. She also attended Mayor Hsueh’s June 9 public forum to look into the dynamics of the township.
   Mayor Hsueh said he talked to West Windsor Police Chief Joseph Pica, former Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed and Princeton Borough Business Administrator Robert Bruschi and that all had nothing but positive things to say about Ms. Schmid.
   She has already completed and passed a thorough background check.
   The mayor said he has distributed Ms. Schmid’s resume to the council and has been setting up opportunities for her to meet the council members.