FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

January 15, 2006

Update on Hiring of New Township Manager

I’d like to give you an update on the status of our search for a new Township Manager. Recently, the governing body moved to separate the function of Township Clerk and Township Manager so that we’d have a single, full time Manager who was not also saddled with the burdens of also being the Township Clerk. We have been blessed in having Mr. Bruce Davis function as Clerk & Manager for the last several years and he has done so with integrity and class. However, with the Township dealing with so many complex issues simultaneously, it was becoming more apparent that we needed a full time Manager that would not have to focus on fulfilling two full time jobs simultaneously.

Under our form of government, the Township Manager functions as the day-to-day CEO. The Manager is responsible for all operations of the Township, including a staff of 250+ employees, a near $40 million dollar operating budget and responsibilities that include everything from grant production, to emergency management to snow plowing. In a town as diverse and as large as Howell, this is no easy task. The Manager takes their direction from the Council and me and is also responsible for implementing and executing the agenda and policies set by the governing body. In their role, the Manager deals with the public, their staff and other officials of the government at all levels. It is the single most important position in our municipality as it relates to the management team.

In light of the importance of this job, the Council and I have chartered a comprehensive and methodical search process designed to help us find and hire the best, most qualified person for the job. We started by selecting a professional recruitment firm that has helped in recruiting and searching for candidates. This firm performs background checks on the candidates and helps screen each person to ensure we are meeting with the best, most qualified people. The Council and I have met with several candidates, some more than once as we narrow our search. Over the next two weeks, we will intensify our interviewing process with additional sessions with select finalists. We’ll also be engaging senior department heads in the process to get their input and participation as we ensure we go through the most stringent and rigorous search and screening process possible.

We’ll to conclude the search and hiring process by the end of the month, and expect to name a new Manager in early February. The hiring of a Manager is the most important personnel decision the governing body will make. Be assured we are handling this process with great due diligence and patience and with the same discipline and focus as major private companies use when hiring a new CEO.

I believe that this process will result in the selection of a new Manager that the community can be proud of and that we’ll be able to count on to help us in fulfilling our continued ambitious agenda to make Howell the best, safest and most affordable place to live, work and raise a family. If you have any questions about this or any issue please feel free to call me or email me at MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us. Thank you and God Bless America.

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