Longport Borough Hall
LONGPORT – After including a salary for the position of municipal administrator in its 2019 municipal budget, the Board of Commissioners is considering hiring an administrator on a part-time basis.
“We have been talking about this for a few years now,” Mayor Nicholas Russo said.
According to Solicitor Pacifico “Pat” Agnellini, the borough advertised the post and the commissioners interviewed two candidates individually, but the full board would need to formally pass a resolution to approve the hire. The board members did not disclose the candidate under consideration for the post.
The board discussed the need for an administrator at a meeting last September and put $40,000 in the 2019 municipal budget to cover a part-time salary.
Chief Finance Officer Jenna Kelly performs many of jobs outside the scope of CFO, including human resources, and Agnellini often acts as ago-between for the commissioners, but there are often delays when decisions must be made between meetings.
Russo said the borough has avoided the expense of an administrator by allowing them to perform certain administrative functions and has even brought in negotiators to handle employee contracts, but he is now concerned about liability issues in a “litigious society,” he said.
“We have to make sure everything is done correctly. With a part-time government, we’re really going to need someone who is here more than the elected officers. I don’t think there is anything else we can put on Jenna’s plate,” Russo said.
Because there are only three commissioners in the commission form of government, two commissioners cannot discuss issues outside of a public meeting, Agnellini said.
“It’s a great system, but a horrible way to run a government,” Agnellini said. “A municipal administrator creates that bridge, can identify issues, obtain information, present it to the department head, get feedback from the department head, and then if it needs a decision from the governing body, bring it to the full governing body. That function is lacking right now.”
While some taxpayers may be concerned about taking on extra costs in such a small community, “It doesn’t matter how large or small a municipality is, that function needs to exist,” he said.
While the borough has functioned without an administrator, as society has become more digital and faster, an administrator can prioritize issues, “so we are not playing catch-up as much as we are now,” Agnellini said.
Commissioner Dan Lawler noted an example of how an administrator could save the borough money – selling no longer needed municipal equipment and vehicles on GovDeals. Although former Municipal Clerk Amy Strawder was familiar with how to post on the government surplus website, none of the other employees know how to do it, he said.
“As commissioners, we don’t micro-manage, we are the major decision makers,” Lawler said. “The business administrator could deal with all the issues and get back to us. It would be way more efficient, would help get a lot more done and a lot faster.”
It could remain as part-time position or turn into full-time if warranted, Lawler said.
The successful candidate would be required to attend commission workshops and regular meetings, Russo said. He recommended Agnellini prepare a one-year contract to present to the candidate.
Commissioner Jim Leeds previously said he would like to see an administrator handle recreational issues, such as leasing the community center and offering programs at the borough’s basketball courts.
Leeds said both candidates were advised it would be a part-time position and they had no problems with that arrangement.
Agnellini said the board may need to amend its current ordinance governing the hiring of a full-time administrator to allow it to be a part-time position.
