Former JC Public Works Director is New PMUA Head

A former Jersey City Public Works director will become the new executive director of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority in mid-June.

Rodney Hadley, currently the Somerville Public Works director, was named at a special PMUA meeting Thursday with Commissioners Henry Robinson, Michelle Graham-Lyons and Chairman Charles Tyndale voting "yes" and Carol Ann Brokaw voting "no." Commissioner Harold Mitchell was not present, as he attending a meeting of the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority.

Brokaw said though Hadley was the choice of a majority of the board, he was "not one of our finalists" in the search for a successor to former Executive Director Dan Williamson. Tyndale said, "I find Mr. Hadley's experience to be substantial for the job at hand, and he can steer the authority in the direction it needs to go."

Terms and conditions of Hadley's contract remain to be negotiated.

Hadley began his Jersey City service as a landscape architect in 1983, becoming the director of Parks & Forestry in 1990 and Public Works director in 2009, according to his resume. His retirement coincided with Mayor Steven M. Fulop's taking office in July 2013. He became Somerville's Public Works director in March 2014.

The PMUA board also authorized negotiations with Williamson and former Chief Financial Officer Duane Young on settlements and separation agreements. Both had contracts through June 30, but left office earlier this month. Tyndale was authorized to execute the agreements subject to ratification by the board at a later date.

Interim Executive Director Bryan G. Christiansen, who was just hired on Monday, attended the special meeting Thursday. Brokaw left the dais the speak as a citizen on behalf of herself and her block association, asking Tyndale to explain the vetting process in Christiansen's appointment. Tyndale said Williamson and Young "took it upon themselves" to leave service early with an expected buyout "which left "the leadership of the authority in disarray." He said with the "urgent necessity" to have someone in charge, he and Graham-Lyons made the choice to hire Christiansen  as they were "comfortable with his experience and ability."

Speaking for himself at Tyndale's invitation, Christiansen gave a summary of his more than 30 years' experience with solid waste and sewerage authorities, including the Union County Utilities Authority and most recently the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. He gave numerous examples of savings he effected in his various roles, such as $100 million at the PVSC.

"No one can question my experience," he said.

Brokaw asked him to verify that he was not part of an investigation into the PVSC and that no action was taken by Gov. Chris Christie during his employment.

"The only thing they ever said about me was how much money I made," Christiansen said, alluding to his PVSC salary of more than $313,000.

He said neither of his two successors had wastewater experience, one being a former prosecutor and the other in law enforcement.

The commission also approved authorization of PMUA Purchasing Agent Dollie S. Hamlin as an alternate signatory for authority contracts.

The next regular PMUA meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday (May 12) at 127 Roosevelt Ave.

--Bernice