By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK – “A cop, a director and [North Brunswick Business Administrator] Rob Lombard walk into a bar,” North Brunswick Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack began saying during the Township Council meeting last week.
Womack said that the bartender hands the three a cocktail menu. The cop orders a beer, the director orders a martini and Lombard says, “Can you give me the menu you used before this one for comparative purposes? And if you’re thinking of making any changes can I know what changes you are contemplating? And if you have any graphics or charts to compare prices, I would appreciate it.”
Womack good-naturedly ribbed Lombard during the business administrator’s last public council meeting on May 16 before his retirement on May 31.
Katherine Monzo, the former business administrator for Princeton, will begin her role this week.
The mayor read from a February 2000 newspaper article that spoke highly of Lombard when he left Jersey City for North Brunswick.
“Rob has been a steady hand that’s made it a pleasure to be part of the council,” Womack said. “Although he’s not a resident, I don’t know anybody who, immediately and thoroughly, to this day, knows this town any better than Rob Lombard does.”
Over the past 16 years, Lombard has overseen budgets, contract negotiations, open space acquisitions, energy-efficient systems and the overall revitalization of the town, and has an extensive knowledge of civil service rules and the water authority, according to members of the council.
“He always had good information, he was always was well researched. If something was missing. he always goes back and gets us what’s missing,” Councilman Ralph Andrews said.
“Being the business administrator is probably the toughest job in the township, the reason being, he has to negotiate all the contracts in the township,” Councilman Bob Davis said. “Sometimes he’s the guy who gets the heat, the bad stuff.”
Councilman Carlo Socio reminisced on joining the council in May 2000, just months after Lombard first came to town. He said the late Mary Pinkham had asked a question and Lombard was able to “rattle off neighborhoods and streets” as if he lived in town.
“He had a calming effect in town at that time, which was not always a happy place,” Socio said.
Councilman Bob Corbin added that Lombard was always willing to help.
“He put the interests of the citizens, the residents, of North Brunswick first,” he said.
That sentiment was echoed by Councilwoman Shanti Narra, who spoke of a personal experience she had involving Lombard.
During one council meeting, Narra had to leave because of an intruder at her home where her mother was. She said as she got home, Lombard drove up right behind her.
“My mother was terrified and you were there even before the police came,” Narra said. “Rob, you are such a gentleman and such an incredibly good person.”
Narra also cited Lombard’s actions during superstorm Sandy in 2012.
“You truly love North Brunswick and as someone who doesn’t live here, that showed every minute during Sandy,” she said.
Emotional after receiving a paperweight as a gift from the Township Council, Lombard said, “I really want to say how grateful I am for the years we’ve been together here – they have been really remarkable. The collegiality of this council is extraordinary. The way you work together, the way the directors and I work together with you has just been a period of grace. I can’t say it any other way. I certainly appreciate this recognition and certainly appreciate the time in town. It’s been an extraordinary time for me and for my family,” he said.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].