By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Anthony Ferrera reported at 7:30 a.m. Monday for his first day as township administrator, assuming command of overseeing the running of township government.
Mr. Ferrera, a former mayor and Township Committeeman, was hired to replace Michael Merdinger, who retired after nearly 21 months in the job.
At 9 a.m. Monday, Mr. Ferrera met with the dozen or so department heads for the first time. He said he would talk to each area leader individually soon, mostly to talk about what processes and projects are working well and how to improve areas that aren’t.
He said he’d rather concentrate on solving a problem, rather than be mired on how it occurred. He said he told department heads to be proactive, to recognize the public is the customer and to respond to inquiries from people within 24 hours.
Communication is one of his strengths, he said. He said he’d look to use email more, both to use less paper and to improve communication flow and turnaround time.
Tuesday morning, half of the office shelves were empty, but there were photos of his two children and photos and a Hillsborough veterans baseball cap on other shelves.
He said he realized he’ll be in a different role from making policy on the Township Committee, and he wanted to concentrate on improving the township.
Most people see him as a “doer,” he said.
”The execution piece is where I excel,” he said.
He planned to meet with Mr. Merdinger yesterday, Wednesday.
At the Aug. 14 meeting, the Township Committee formally thanked Mr. Merdinger, who is also a former mayor, for his recent service as an employee as well as a volunteer for more than 36 years in local government, the Flagtown Fire Company and the Rotary Club.

