Tinton Falls will seek new administrator

Tinton Falls will seek new administrator
Mayor: Interim admin. may be necessary
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer

TINTON FALLS — Borough officials said last week they would begin the search for a new business administrator after current Administrator Bryan Dempsey announced he would be leaving.

Dempsey, who has served as borough administrator for four years, will move to the position of borough administrator in Spring Lake at the end of the year.

Dempsey's position will be open as of Jan. 1. Mayor Michael Skudera said the search for a replacement will begin immediately but a new administrator may not be in place by Jan. 1. "I'm going to begin search," Skudera said at the Dec. 1 Borough Council meeting. "Jan. 1 is coming up and we may need to have a temporary appointment for administrator."

Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor said last week the borough would advertise the open position, adding that the mayor needs the advice and consent of council to name a replacement.

"It is a mayoral appointment with the consent of council," she said.

Mount-Taylor explained that Tinton Falls has previously had to fill the administrator's position with a temporary replacement.

"The mayor has the ability to appoint an interim or an acting administrator for 90 days," she said. "When Mayor [Peter] Maclearie came on board in 2005, the administrator had retired and he appointed John Bucciero [director of public works] the interim administrator."

She said the interim could be someone who is already part of the borough administration.

Dempsey took time at the meeting to thank some people he has had contact with over his four years in Tinton Falls, singling out members of the Lomangino family.

"I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to be the administrator the past four years," he said. "I've enjoyed my time here."

"I will miss everyone and everything that goes with the position here, especially the Lomanginos."

An added advantage for the borough during Dempsey's tenure was that he is also a registered municipal clerk, meaning that when Mount-Taylor was on vacation he filled in.

"I used to have the luxury of a registered municipal clerk's license when I went out of the country," Mount-Taylor explained in an interview that her assistants are in the process of obtaining the license and having Dempsey registered was a benefit for the borough.

"He did that on his own," she said.

"It was a luxury that he could act legally in my absence," she added. "Since I don't have a deputy, that is why Bryan was taking my place.

"The administrator does not have to have a municipal clerk's license; that was just an extra perk," she continued.

Dempsey played along with some good-natured teasing.

"I miss two meetings a year," Mount-Taylor said. "They might have to reschedule because there is no one else in the borough, unless he wants to come back and do those two meetings."

"I would come back," Dempsey responded. "If I don't have a conflict in Spring Lake, I would definitely come back."

With just one council meeting left before Dempsey leaves, Skudera thanked him and reminded him of some lengthy meetings he sat through.

"Mr. Dempsey has worked very well in Tinton Falls," he said. "I'm sad to see him go. Perhaps for memory's sake we should have some special meetings until midnight."

Dempsey assumed the position of borough administrator in Tinton Falls on Oct. 18, 2005. He had previously been township administrator in Barnegat Township for two years.

Dempsey began his career in Wall Township, where he worked his way up through various positions. He started as a field representative to the tax assessor, and after one year he was promoted to code enforcement officer. While working in that position, he got his master's degree in public administration, and assistant administrator was added to his job description. Then recreation director was added to his titles. He held all three positions until leaving in 2003 for the position of township administrator in Barnegat Township in Ocean County, where he served for two years before being named borough administrator in Tinton Falls.

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.