Reenstra-Bryant still in the running
The mayor and council are planning to start interviewing applicants for borough administrator in the coming weeks. The position, which has been unfilled since former administrator Timothy Stafford retired at the end of 2007, could be made part time depending on the needs of the town, according to Councilwoman Maura Keyes.
After Stafford retired, the mayor had 30 days by borough ordinance to appoint a new administrator. As early as the organizational meeting on Jan. 1, Hipp said Robin Reenstra-Bryant, the manager of the Rutherford Downtown Partnership, was his first choice. However, on Jan. 29 the mayor and council waived the appointment of Reenstra-Bryant at her request in favor of a chance to recruit through an open bidding process. Former borough administrator Bob Gorman, former Library Board of Trustees president Patricia Wester and current borough attorney Lane Biviano had all submitted resumes for the job late last year, though Biviano withdrew his when he was appointed attorney. According to Councilman John Genovesi, Gorman and Wester didn’t resubmit applications when the borough decided to open the position to public bids. Reenstra-Bryant did re-submit an application.
After receiving a new slew of applications, Keyes and Genovesi sorted the applicants into three categories depending on the their qualifications. She said the pool will be narrowed down from the about 15 candidates who applied several months ago to four or five. Genovesi and Keyes sorted the applications before submitting them to the rest of the council, which is expected to give its recommendations on the applications at the April 29 meeting. Keyes said interviews will begin shortly thereafter based on the recommendations. The decision could be made by sometime in May, according to Genovesi.
In the beginning of the year, Mayor John Hipp spoke about hiring new professionals at a reduced cost to the borough. At $142,752, Stafford was one of the highest paid employees in the borough. However, $20,000 was for serving as recycling coordinator and another $20,000 was for serving as insurance commissioner, positions which have since been taken up by Sharon Del Vecchio and Peter Van Winkle respectively. Del Vecchio makes $8,500 and Van Winkle makes $1 a year. Just as administrator, Stafford made $102,752 per year.
Keyes didn’t say the council isn’t using Stafford’s salary as a reference point, however, saying instead that they’re looking at the salary requirements stated by the individual applicants. However, she said she didn’t think anyone who gets hired would make as much money as Stafford did.
"We haven’t seen anyone with any credentials that would warrant it," said Keyes. Given that the borough has been operating for four months without a borough administrator, the councilwoman said the council is also considering the possibility of hiring someone part time.
At recent meetings, residents have expressed concern over the borough’s lack of an administrator. Keyes emphasized at the April 15 work session that all of the administrator’s duties are being done in the interim. Most of the responsibilities have fallen on borough clerk Mary Kriston and chief financial officer Ed Cortright.
"On the one hand we want an administrator. On the other hand we save money every day we wait," said Cortright on the virtues of taking time with the search. "Right now the first order of business is budgeting cuts."
In response to whether or not Kriston and Cortright are going to receive overtime or more money for the increased workload, Kriston said she didn’t believe they were going to be, but Cortright said, "It’s to be discussed." Keyes said there hasn’t been any official talk regarding extra compensation.
