PRINCETON: Bruschi is the choice for administrator

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   Borough Administrator Robert W. Bruschi should assume the same position starting next year in the consolidated Princeton, borough and township officials agreed Monday.
   Mr. Bruschi was recommended to get a one-year contract to be the highest-ranking employee in municipal government. In a related move, acting Township Administrator Kathryn Monzo was recommended to be his deputy administrator and assume the duties of finance director.
   The two recommendations, released Monday at a joint meeting of both governing bodies, were made by a group of five officials from the borough and township.
   Mr. Bruschi was on vacation this week and unavailable for comment. Ms. Monzo, speaking in a phone interview Tuesday, noted that she and Mr. Bruschi have worked closely and well together during the busy transitional year before the consolidation. She said there has been a “tremendous workload.”
   Officials, raving about the skills of Mr. Bruschi and Ms. Monzo, felt the dual leadership approach was the right way to go. They bring a combined 56 years of experience in government between them.
   Mr. Bruschi has been borough manager for a little more than 13 years. Ms. Monzo has been the chief financial officer for the township for the past eight years, with earlier stints with the state Department of Community Affairs and Mansfield Township.
   ”Kathy and Bob are both really strong candidates,” said township Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert in a phone interview Tuesday.
   But Mr. Bruschi is not expected to serve in the job long, according to one official. During Monday’s meeting, borough Councilman Roger Martindell raised that Mr. Bruschi is due to retire at the end of next year. All personnel recommendations still have to be approved by the governing body that takes office in January, although officials said this week that the choices of Mr.Bruschi and Ms. Monzo likely would be accepted.
   Mr. Bruschi and Ms. Monzo represented the most recent but not last high-level personnel choices officials need to make ahead of the consolidation. Ms. Lempert said there is still the public works director, chief financial officer and municipal engineer, with recommendations for those posts perhaps coming at the July 30 joint meeting of the two governing bodies.
   ”That’s our goal,” Ms. Lempert said.
   Officials already have recommended borough police Chief David J. Dudeck to run the merged police department starting in January.