Tim Kreischer of Ventnor.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
ATLANTIC CITY – Former Ventnor City Mayor Tim Kreischer has been selected to replace former Atlantic County Commissioner Frank Formica as the county’s shared services coordinator.
“I heard Frank was no longer employed in that position and since I’ve been retired for the last two years, I gave Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson a call expressing interest in the job,” Kreischer said Wednesday morning.
Kreischer will put his 16 years of local government service and more than 35 years of private business experience to use coordinating shared services between municipalities and county government.
“We are very fortunate to have such a uniquely qualified individual as Tim for this position. His knowledge and experience will serve him well,” Levinson said.
Kreischer was a Ventnor City commissioner from 1992 to 1996 and served as mayor of the shore town from 1996 to 2008.
He said he as a “passion” for government.
Kreischer is very familiar with shared services having negotiated several agreements during his time as mayor, Levinson said. They included an agreement with Longport, Ocean City and Fairfield Township for engineering services, an agreement with Longport for building inspections, an agreement with Margate for a grant to purchase equipment, as well as an agreement with Atlantic County for flood control, street cleaning and snow removal.
Kreischer also pursued federal, state and county grants for a $3.2 million renovation of the Ventnor Fishing Pier, the partial re-decking of the city’s 1.8-mile boardwalk, beach replenishment, numerous infrastructure improvements and new fire equipment.
“Tim is a former president of the Atlantic County Mayors’ Association. He knows the elected officials and he understands their needs, obligations and concerns,” Levinson said. “He will be a tremendous asset in helping us identify areas where the towns can save our taxpayers money by working together to reduce duplication and provide greater efficiencies.”
Kreischer business experience includes owning and operating a fast food store on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and a variety store in Margate. Afterward, he worked in human resources and labor relations for the Harrah’s organization until his retirement.
He said he is looking forward to bringing a mayor’s perspective to the job.
“I know what works and what won’t work,” he said.
The NJ Legislature passed the Local Efficiencies Achievement Program, or LEAP, requiring each county to appoint a shared services coordinator to facilitate shared service agreements between local governments. The bill provided $10 million in funding for the program, with grants to cover the salaries of the county coordinators.
Kreischer will earn an annual salary of $50,000, pro-rated based upon his April start date, and will not need health benefits. He will join other county shared services coordinators for training this month in Trenton.
Kreischer, who started the job on Monday, said he already worked on a shared services agreement Formica coordinated during his tenure between Atlantic County and the City of Estell Manor for snow removal on county roadways.
The Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved $150,000 in LEAP funding to be used toward the purchase of equipment needed to plow the roads.
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