Township Manager Contract For $195,000 Approved In Howell

HOWELL, NJ — The Township Council recently approved an employment agreement with Howell Township Manager Joseph A. Clark, the former township attorney.

Clark was named interim manager May 24, and then named manager on Dec. 14 of last year. The employment contract is retroactive to the December date.

Under the contract, the starting salary for Clark is $195,000 per year. Under state law, the contract is in place until either Clark or the council wants to terminate it, Clark confirmed.

“I’m happy to have been selected manager back in December, and to have my contract finalized this past meeting. I see so much good that’s currently happening in Howell, and I’m blessed to be part of a big team making it a reality," Clark said in a statement regarding the job.

Clark credited township staff, too.

"I know from experience that the people here work hard to do the best possible job for our residents; it’s inspiring, and I hope to be a part of it for a long time,” Clark said.

Clark's salary was not discussed beyond the approval of the resolution at the Feb. 7 Township Council meeting.

According to the employment contract Clark provided, he shall "be entitled to the same raises provided to employees in the Teamsters bargaining unit. In addition to the foregoing, the council may at any time conduct a performance review to arrive and agree to any other base salary permitted under the township's Salary Ordinance, or as said ordinance may from time to time be amended."

The salary range for the township manager position, along with ranges for other positions in the township, was approved by ordinance at the Feb. 7 meeting. The township manager salary range is between $95,000 to $200,000 annually, according to the ordinance (23-1).

Deputy Mayor Evelyn O'Donnell and Councilmen Fred Gasior and Ian Nadel were the only members of the council present and they voted unanimously to approve the contract.

Two former council members, former Deputy Mayor Pamela Richmond and former Councilwoman Suzanne Brennan, both spoke in public comment sessions in favor of the agreement, praising Clark's work ethic and his commitment to the town, where he is also a resident, they said.

They both defended the council's decision not to conduct a broader search for the manager post. Clark was serving as the township attorney when the council decided to appoint him interim manager in May.

Clark's experience "checked all the boxes," Brennan said, agreeing with Richmond that the council felt confident there was no need to have a broader search.

Clark replaced former Township Manager Brian Geoghegan, who was terminated in August after the issue of his use of paid time off came up during contract negotiations.