Acting Township Manager to Conduct Financial Analysis of Construction Office

Acting Galloway Township Manager Steve Bonanni was asked to conduct a financial analysis of the Construction Office as it pertains to a possible consolidation by the Township Council at its meeting Tuesday night.

The findings and a possible resolution to begin the process will be discussed at the council’s next meeting, in two weeks.

The Construction Office is one of four offices under Community Development. The others are Code Enforcement, Planning Board and Zoning Board.

A Rice notice was provided to the current land use director in the interest in privacy for the department’s employees, according to Galloway Solicitor Michael Blee.

The land use director is in charge of fielding initial inquiries about development, and keeping track of proper zoning regulations.

Under the Rice notice, employees have the right to know their job will be discussed, and in this instance, the employee wished for the discussion to take place in open session. 

The employee also has the option to have the discussion held in executive session, in which case it is at the council’s discretion if it wishes the employee to be in attendance for the conversation.

There are about nine total employees in the department, including four full-time employees.

The discussion began under former Township Manager Roger Tees, who recommended the entire department be outsourced.

That possibility was under consideration until further discussion revealed that would not produce savings over the short term because there were already projects underway for which the fees had already been paid, according to Mayor Keith Hartman.

Hartman stated he would like to see savings of about $60,000. 

During the meeting, Hartman also addressed the decision Monday night by Hamilton Township to lay off more than 30 employees, stating he didn’t anticipate anything that drastic happening in Galloway, pending the outcome of union negotiations.

“It’s never an easy decision to make,” Hartman said. “We’re talking about people’s jobs, and we never take that lightly.”