Report: O'port council should be reorganized
Panel says boro admin. should be part-time post
BY JENNA O'DONNELL Staff Writer
The Oceanport Borough Council should be reorganized to function more efficiently, according to recommendations in a report by a panel that studied borough government.

"A large part of the problem with the effectiveness of the borough organization is the present structure and organization of the council," stated the report by the borough's volunteer Blue Ribbon Panel.

"The current liaison and committee structure is totally inefficient and creates a negative environment that retards accomplishment," it continues. "The council should seriously consider the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel for reorganization."

The Blue Ribbon Panel of three volunteers was appointed by Mayor Lucille Chaump in April after council members were unable to adopt a municipal budget due to a disagreement over the need to hire a business administrator.

The final report was summarized by Chaump at the Dec. 20 council meeting, but was not presented or discussed because one of the panel members was not present.

The report states that the recommendations should not be construed as "someone doing or not doing their job" and is not meant as criticism of municipal employees.

In the three-page "Blue Ribbon Panel Report and Recommendations" the volunteer panel also concluded that there was a definite need for a "management function" to coordinate and direct the activities of borough employees.

"One person needs to be formally charged with this responsibility," the report states. "These duties and responsibilities require approximately four hours per day. It is not a full-time job but the person responsible should be available all day, every day, to handle problems and emergencies as they arise."

The panel advises against hiring a full-time position, stating that "there is not enough work to justify a full-time administrator."

However, the panel notes that it would be "extremely difficult to hire a part-time administrator with the qualifications to do an effective job. Additionally, not being available at any time during the day would also make the position ineffective."

In light of these findings, the panel suggests restructuring and redistributing the jobs and responsibilities of current employees and presents some options.

"There were two options," said Chaump in a summary. "Incorporate the new position with existing personnel, which is a minimal cost option, or reorganize and hire from the outside; that is more complex."

The panel presented the initial findings at a Sept. 6 workshop meeting at which panel member Wayne Mackenrodt agreed to extend the review for another 60 days to focus on three initiatives.

Their task was to redefine and reorganize resource allocation; define areas of responsibility and accountability; and define and implement management practices to improve productivity and efficiency.

Mackenrodt, a business owner and management consultant, was supported by Marc Lower, a business development director and George Katzenberger, a resident.

The panel spent between 10 and 20 hours a week for seven weeks "reviewing procedures, roles and responsibilities."

The panel reported several significant results achieved over the course of their 60-day project, including the implementation

of new systems,

reports and regular

meetings among the borough

hall staff.

The panel also reported

"marked improvement

in

productivity and responsiveness

of borough hall"

and that "efforts are continuing to be made to further improve operations."

The panel's final report comes in the waning days of Chaump's term in office and Mayor-elect Michael Mahon will be the next to address the findings.

"The new mayor-elect has decided to take the committee structure that was suggested and presented at a workshop meeting by my Blue Ribbon Panel," Chaump said. "Since I appointed this committee, their work is finished unless the new mayor-elect decides to keep and reappoint them in 2008."

In light of the fact that the council had not had the opportunity to discuss the report, Mahon said last week it wouldn't be fair for him to comment on it.

"The council will probably benefit from having the discussion take place," Mahon said. "I would like to reschedule the presentation in January as early as possible.

"At that point we'll discuss the conclusions, have a Q&A with the presenters and get a feel for their thoughts beyond the report."