Hoboken City Council Approves New Business Administrator

Hoboken took another step towards fiscal independence Wednesday night, when City Council approved the Mayor's pick for the new Business Administrator in an 8-1 vote. 

Arch Liston, 54, the Business Administrator in Bridgeton, will start working on Hoboken's finances on May 3. City Council didn't vote on his salary yet.

The proposal for a $150,000 annual salary—with pension, but without health benefits—was taken out of Wednesday night's resolution to hire Liston.

As Bridgeton's Business Administrator, he makes $125,000 a year and health benefit payments in lieu of health care benefits, Liston told City Council. 

"Would you be willing," Second Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason asked Liston during the meeting, "to come to Hoboken for less than $150,000?"

Liston said that he did not consider that question part of official negotiations, and didn't answer.

Third Ward Councilman Michael Russo said he was happy to vote on the new appointment, without voting on his salary, giving City Council the opportunity "to vote for the man, rather than the salary associated with it." Russo said Liston's salary will have to be decided based on the City's salary ordinance.

"I want to remind everyone that we live in the New York area," said Council President Peter Cunningham, "salaries are high for these positions." 

State Fiscal Monitor Judy Tripodi earns $130,000 a year, and receives health benefits from the City of Hoboken.

Hiring a business administrator was the last requirement the City had to fulfill in order to regain its fiscal independence from the state. Tripodi has been in Hoboken since 2008.

Liston said he has resigned from his position as Business Administrator in Bridgeton. Bridgeton has a $22.5 million budget, which is significantly smaller than Hoboken's nearly $100 million budget. Liston also worked as the Township Manager and Police Chief in Mount Holly.  

"I understand people's concerns about moving to a larger community," Liston said. 

First Ward Councilwoman Theresa Castellano cast the one dissenting vote. She said she didn't want to vote on the appointment of  a new director without also voting on his salary. 

"I cannot vote without knowing the salary," she said, adding that without that knowledge she didn't have "a clear picture of what the future holds."

Mason, although she voted in favor of Liston's appointment, said the process of the search and hiring of the new Business Administrator was not transparent, because she had not seen the resumes of the other candidates. 

Daniel Bryan, the mayor's special aide, said the City received roughly 65 resumes for the position. 

Councilman-at-Large David Mello said he supported Liston, because of his "lengthy and relevant experience in New Jersey."

Liston said in an interview last week that he is planning to move to Hoboken for his new job. 

Right before calling the vote, Council President Cunningham told Liston: "there will be a tremendous amount of pressure placed on you to perform."