Red Bank: Next Police Chief Is Named; Manager Role Is Outlined

RED BANK, NJ — As Police Chief Darren McConnell prepares to retire, Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman on Thursday announced who the new chief will be - Capt. Michael Frazee, a veteran of the department.

McConnell was planning a July 31 retirement date, but that has been extended for at least a month as he finalizes pension issues, the mayor said at the Red Bank Borough Council meeting.

Frazee, who grew up in Red Bank, has been with the police department since 1994.

McConnell also is serving as interim business administrator, and Portman said the council now must set the terms for the search for a township manager. That discussion will begin at the next regular council meeting, Aug. 10, Portman said.

The manager position is required under the new nonpartisan Council/Manager form of government approved by voters in the borough.

The meeting Thursday focused on several issues, but among them was the beginning of the review of borough codes required to make the transition to the new form of government.

Attorney Michael L. Collins, who had been the Charter Study Commission attorney, made a presentation to the council and public regarding the overhaul of borough codes required by state law. Collins is special counsel for the borough on the matter, and you can see his presentation on the meeting video here.

He retraced the history of the Charter Study Commission, leading to the approval by voters of the change to a nonpartisan government in the November 2022 election.

The new form of government became official on July 1, 2023, after the nonpartisan election for mayor and council on May 9.

Collins outlined changes in the mayor's role. The mayor, for example, now participates in all votes, and no longer has veto power over adopted ordinances.

Now the council is the legislative body and the entire executive power is vested in the person to be chosen as manager, as required by state law, Collins explained.

Role of manager

The council will hire the manager and clerk, but every other employee is hired by the manager, who can act quickly to fill openings in the borough's departments, he said. And now individual council members do not have oversight of specific departments.

The governing body "sets the vision" and the manager must carry out those policies, Collins said.

The manager's position is now mandatory under state law in this form of government.

The council will appoint the manager, who can be removed by a simple majority of the governing body, Collins said. A residency requirement for the manager can be waived, Collins said.

The manager may negotiate contracts, but they are subject to council approval, he added. The manager is also responsible for preparing the budget, also subject to council approval.

An immediate job facing the Mayor and Council will be updating borough codes under the new Council/Manager form of government, Collins said.

In the next 90 days, council must pass an "overhaul ordinance," Collins said, that implements the new form of government.

It will focus on the organization of the borough, such as department heads, for example. Collins said he welcomes any guidance from the council on these issues and will work through Borough Attorney Gregory Cannon and will also have public hearings on the changes.

He said state law sets a 90-day period to do this work, so the borough has until Oct. 1 for introduction and adoption. The updated provisions will take effect 90 days after that.

And he said that by Thanksgiving the council should be "good to go" with the Council/Manager form of government.

November election date adopted

An ordinance already introduced was adopted Thursday, setting November as the date for local municipal elections. The first municipal election will be in November 2025.

This follows the May 9 vote that saw the Red Bank's Ready team win all six council seats and keep the mayor's position.

May0r Portman, Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano and Councilmember Nancy Facey-Blackwood are all serving four-year terms.

In lots drawn for councilmembers at a special meeting on July 6, Councilmembers Ben Forest, Laura Jannone, David Cassidy and Kristina Bonatakis drew lots for two-year terms, to create a staggered election for the municipal government going forward.