PHILLIPSBURG, N.J.---Phillipsburg's business administrator and clerk announced publicly at Wednesday's council meeting he will be leaving his position effective this Friday, Aug. 16.

Hall would not comment on the resignation when contacted nearly two weeks ago.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Matthew C. Hall said his coworkers have known of his imminent departure since he tendered his two-week notice on Aug. 2. He has been the head of the town's business department for the past two years and has accepted a work-from-home position with Veolia North America. Veolia provides solutions for its clients' water, waste, and energy concerns that promote sustainability and the circular economy.

The business administrator is responsible for all operations of the town, personnel, and department heads, and is an appointed position that requires council consent, but is under the direction of the Mayor. The Business Administrator also serves as the head of the sewer utility.

According to the town charter and code, revised when the form of government was changed to a Strong Mayor. the business administrators' roles are:

"The Business Administrator shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as are provided by statute, the Charter, this Administrative Code and ordinance. In addition thereto, under the direction and the supervision of the Mayor, he shall:

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

A. Assist in the preparation of the budget;

B. Administer a centralized purchasing system;

C. Be responsible for the development and administration of a sound personnel system;

D. Supervise the management, planning and operations of all boards, commissions and committees as assigned by the Council to the Department of Administration; and

E. Perform such other duties as the Council may prescribe."

In a statement, Hall said he is especially proud of all that has been accomplished under the new Mayor Randy Piazza, Jr. and the current town council.

He called particular attention to the restructurings of the public works, recreation, and inspections departments in addition to the urban enterprise zone (UEZ). The UEZ in Phillipsburg dates back to 1994 and is part of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

In addition, he cited the town's hiring of a human resources director and major investments in Phillipsburg's internet technology infrastructure.

Hall also pledged his full support to Mayor Piazza and the remainder of the administration so that his transition would be smooth. Hall's tenure has been just short of two years. Hall was appointed by Mayor Todd M. Tersigni.

Due to Hall's leaving, Council approved the appointment of Deputy Municipal Clerk Susan Turner as acting municipal clerk and registrar.  Turner will get an increased salary of $85,000 until she is appointed the Municipal Clerk, or one is hired.

In other business , the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) announced in a letter from its Commissioner Shawn LaTourette to Mayor Piazza it is approving the town's application for a non-matching grant of $500,000 for improvements to Mercer Street Park, previously announced on TAPinto in April.

The funding was offered under the Urban Parks Grants Initiative within the state's fiscal year 2024 budget.

In a second letter to Piazza, LaTourette wrote the NJ DEP in conjunction with the Garden State Preservation Trust approved a matching grant of $750,000 for the town's Brainard Street Park playground. The funding is contingent upon the passage of a state legislative appropriation, and was also announced in a release from the State on Earth Day.

Read More:

Phillipsburg Parks Awarded Grants for Three Projects, Including an Inclusive Playground

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net