O'port clerk adds administrator to title

O'port clerk adds administrator to title
Mayor breaks 3-3 tie in favor of appointment
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

OCEANPORT — The Borough Council promoted two employees to higher positions last week, expanding the duties of the current borough clerk to include those of borough administrator.

Kim Jungfer, who has served as borough clerk since 2005, will now be the borough's clerk/administrator.

In the new position, Jungfer will receive an additional $10,000 per year, bringing the salary for the combined position to $80,000.

Before being appointed borough clerk, she served as deputy borough clerk for seven years.

Jeanne Smith, an administrative assistant in the borough clerk's office, was appointed deputy borough clerk. The appointment comes with a $6,000 raise bringing her annual salary to approximately $36,000.

The two appointments were recommended by Mayor Michael Mahon and voted on by the council during the May 21 council meeting.

Smith's appointment was approved by a 6-0 unanimous vote.

"I work hand in hand with Jeanne on the Planning Board, and there is nobody who deserves the promotion more than Jeanne," council President William Johnson said as he voted yes.

Councilwoman Ellynn Kahle also agreed that Smith deserved the appointment.

"I've also seen how the responsibilities of the job have grown since she's been here, and it's really been a pleasure to have her," Kahle said.

The appointment of Jungfer was somewhat contentious, with a 3-3 stalemate on the vote among the six council members.

Mahon then cast the deciding yes vote, clearing the way for Jungfer to become the administrator.

The council disagreed on whether the appointment made economic sense.

"Yes, I think this is an economically sensible solution that fits the recommendation of the blue ribbon panel that we previously had," Councilman Gerald Briscione said. "And I think Kim currently handles many of the functions of the administrator without the title."

Kahle, however, disagreed and cited the recent cuts the borough has made and is attempting to make as a reason why the position of administrator may not even be necessary.

"My concern about this appointment is that it is coming at a time that we are deferring our pension contributions because we can't afford not to, we ask our employees to take a 2-percent salary increase and contribute to an insurance plan for the first time," Kahle said.

"And we are also actively looking into outsourcing our dispatch services because we need to cut spending," Kahle added, "and in this economic climate I don't think its really appropriate to create a new position. As a taxpayer, I think it's a frivolous expense," Kahle said. Other council members claimed that Jungfer might lack the experience and capacity for such a position.

"I am 100 percent in favor of having a borough administrator," Johnson said. "Unfortunately I believe this position requires a different skill set. This is no knock on Kim."

Councilman Richard Gallo Jr. also agreed that Jungfer did not have enough experience for the position.

"I am for the borough administrator but I wish we had an opportunity to advertise online to see what's out there," Gallo said.

"The present council adopted some of their [the panel's] ideas and one of them was that the borough administrator should have experience and possibly share with other communities," Gallo added. "I agreed with that."

Gallo said that this appointment was made without even looking outside the borough for a suitable candidate.

"This appointment does not follow or look into any other candidate, and I do not support this appointment," he said.

Councilmen John Ibex and Joseph Irace both voted for the appointment.

"I wholeheartedly mirror the comments of Councilman Briscione and with great pleasure and honor that I vote yes on this," Ibex said. "It's been a long time coming."

With the vote 3-3, Mahon broke the tie, voting for the appointment.

He cited his first-hand work with Jungfer as the main reason why she should be appointed administrator.

"I understand that was a difficult decision," Mahon said. "For me personally I can say that in the relatively short time I've been here as mayor that Kim Jungfer has certainly been responsive to all the needs and regulations that I've imposed on her."

He also said that he understands that the appointment may not have the support of each council member.

"It's difficult to put a handle on what each of us desire as a full-time administrator in this difficult economic time," he said.

But in the end, he said, Jungfer is worthy of the promotion and has already been doing work beyond the responsibilities of borough clerk.

"I think that she has stepped up in a capacity that she does not legitimately have until this point," he said. "I think this is the best answer at this time."

The borough administrator's post has been the issue of much debate in the past.

In 2007, former Mayor Lucille Chaump formed a Blue Ribbon Panel after council members were unable to adopt a municipal budget due to a disagreement over the need to hire a business administrator.

In a three-page "Blue Ribbon Panel Report and Recommendations" the volunteer panel concluded that there was a definite need for a "management function" to coordinate and direct the activities of borough employees.

"One person needs to be formally charged with this responsibility," the report stated. "These duties and responsibilities require approximately four hours per day. It is not a fulltime job but the person responsible should be available all day, every day, to handle problems and emergencies as they arise."

The panel advised against hiring for a fulltime position, stating, "there is not enough work to justify a full-time administrator."

Both positions are effective immediately.

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.