HOWELL – Dwayne Harris, who previously served as the municipal clerk in Atlantic Highlands, Trenton and Berlin, is Howell’s new municipal clerk.
Harris, who joined the township in July, succeeds Sue Minock. Harris holds a doctorate in public administration from Liberty University and a master’s degree in theology from Regent University.
In an interview, Harris said that prior to entering the field of municipal government, he worked in restaurant development.
“Ironically, I was here in Howell for a few months when Boston Market opened before leaving to open stores in Aberdeen Township, Hazlet, Middletown, Shrewsbury and Menlo Park (Edison).
“I left (the municipal clerk’s position in) Berlin (Camden County) because my wife, who is a former councilwoman in Eatontown and who was working in Eatontown, was tired of commuting from Lawrenceville, where we currently reside, so we agreed I would relocate back to Monmouth County; a decision I am pretty happy with,” Harris said.
Harris said he previously served as a councilman in Atlantic Highlands in northern Monmouth County and as a member of the school board in that community.
“I sit on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Human Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It provides communities with knowledge, skills and services to educate individuals to prevent and control HIV/AIDS,” Harris said.
The township’s new clerk said he thinks Howell is “a beautiful community with many positive attributes.”
“My sister and her family lived in Howell for over 25 years and I have a few friends and colleagues who reside here. I look forward to contributing some of my knowledge and experience.
“In addition, I have found my team in the clerk’s office and many other departments I have had the privilege of interacting with to be very community oriented, highly skilled and proficient in what they do, making my transition into Howell easy, and they have been very welcoming,” Harris said.
Allison Ciranni is Howell’s deputy clerk. According to the municipal website, the mission of the clerk’s office “is to retain and protect all township documents and public records; to provide voter registration and administer all elections; to serve as the secretary to the Township Council; and finally to serve as an information officer and reference center to the public.”