High Turnover Mars Administration

In March 2006, the man in charge of the largest of three city departments left Plainfield to become the first city manager of Topeka, Kans. As of July 1, Norton Bonaparte Jr. will be parting ways with Topeka after six years – actually a very good run, compared to what has happened here.

No fewer than six people have held his former job here since he left, four as head of the Department of Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services and two city administrators who covered the department during extensive vacancies.

Bonaparte himself had been the city administrator in Plainfield when Sharon Robinson-Briggs won the June 2005 primary, defeating Mayor Albert T. McWilliams. When Robinson-Briggs took office on Jan.1, 2006, she named Bonaparte acting head of the department that included 14 divisions, by far the largest of three departments mandated by the city’s special charter.

When Bonaparte left for Topeka in mid-March 2006, his duties apparently fell to Acting City Administrator Carlton McGee, although the City Council was not given the customary notice. The AFH&SS post remained vacant until December 2006, when A. Raiford Daniels was named department head. Meanwhile, McGee had departed in November 2006, leaving two key posts unmanned.

Daniels left the job in November 2007, by which time Marc Dashield had been city administrator for less than a year. It fell to Dashield to cover the department until the hiring of Douglas Peck as head of AFH&SS in April 2008. But Peck only lasted until December of that year, leaving Dashield wearing two hats once again until Bibi Taylor was hired as department head in July 2009.

Meanwhile, the mayor won a second term and Dashield was not expected to be art of the new cabinet. He left to become township manager in Montclair. Taylor was appointed both acting city administrator and acting head of AFH&SS in January 2010, but was expected to leave the city for East Orange within the month. As it turned out, Taylor stayed on all year, holding both posts until Al Restaino, head of the Office of Community Development, was named director of AFH&SS, a post he retains to the present.

The Municipal Code calls for acting designations not to exceed 90 days, but as described above, AFH&SS suffered not only high turnover but also extended vacancies in violation of the rule.

There was more cabinet hurly-burly when in December the mayor fired Taylor, who was nine months pregnant. The City Council rescinded the firing, but Taylor chose not to return to the city after a maternity leave and took a Union County post as finance director. In January, the mayor named Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson acting city administrator, which in turn necessitated naming of an acting corporation counsel. At the end of March, the mayor named herself acting city administrator. As of May 11, another acting city administrator has been hired.

Among the other department heads, Martin Hellwig has been director of Public Affairs & Safety throughout the mayor’s first and second terms. He also holds the title of police director, which was created after the police chief’s title was abolished.

Public Works & Urban Development had only one director, Jennifer Wenson-Maier, throughout the mayor’s first term, but she was not reappointed in January 2010 and took an administrative job in Hoboken. David Brown II served as department head from February 2010 to November 2010. Jacques Howard of the Office of Economic Development was named acting department head in January. His term expired at the end of March and the post is currently vacant.

As previously reported, the statutory post of chief finance officer was vacant for three years until the state Division of Local Government Services threatened daily fines for the mayor and each council member unless one was hired. The administration and governing body met a November deadline by hiring retiree Ron Zilinski, but he did not begin until January and works just 28 hours a week. The title of city treasurer was created for him to meet certain pension rules.

The churn of top officials, especially in financial areas, is concerning, as the city faces ongoing budget pressures that require close attention. Layoffs have thinned staff, further setting the stage for erosion of basic services. But the mayor has two and a half years to go in her second term and still has a chance to put together a solid administrative team, if qualified people are willing to set foot where so many have recently trod. The degree of turnover, especially in AFH&SS, means any new city administrator and department heads will have to play catch-up on some key issues.

Meanwhile, Norton Bonaparte Jr. will leave his $137,500 post (and $550 monthly vehicle allowance) with $100,000 in severance pay after six years of service in charge of 1,400 employees and a $224 million budget. His credentials are such that he is sure to find another administrative role. Plaintalker wishes him well.

--Bernice