When Carl Czaplicki was named the new head of the Jersey City Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, some questioned his qualifications for the job he started on Monday.
But Czaplicki did not doubt himself for a moment, as he said in an interview last week.
The 38-year-old Czaplicki was voted into his new job by the City Council at their Sept. 24 meeting. They passed a resolution making him the first permanent director, succeeding acting director Bob Antonicello. (Antonicello also serves as the executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, an autonomous agency.) Former director Barbara Netchert stepped down from the position after she won the Democratic primary in June for Hudson County Clerk.
Previously, Czaplicki was Chief of Staff for Mayor Jerramiah Healy for almost three years, and worked for several years before that as an aide for late Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham.
As head of HEDC he will earn about $107,000. That includes a $102,000 base salary along with increases from time worked in government. He made about $100,000 in his old position.
However, while Czaplicki has an administrative background, he does not have an economic background. That is usual for the HEDC director’s post, which entails heading one of the most important departments in Jersey City government.
But Czaplicki sees himself as having certain skills that will help him succeed in his new job.
“In essence, I bring my knowledge of how government functions, and how it has to operate, and some political experience as well,” Czaplicki said.What is the HEDC?
The Jersey City Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, according to the city official website, www.jerseycitynj.gov, is responsible for the following:
“Planning and overseeing the orderly growth and development of Jersey City’s residential, commercial, non-profit, and industrial sectors through the regulation of land use, disbursement of state and federal grant funds, permitting, and code enforcement,” and “contributing to the public welfare and quality of life by supporting social services providers, staffing boards, enforcing building codes, housing codes, rent and tenant laws, and issuing licenses to businesses.”
Several major city divisions fall under the umbrella of the department, including City Planning, Commerce, Community Development, Construction Code, Housing Code Enforcement, Tenant Landlord Relations and Economic Development.
Czaplicki described how important the HEDC is to the city.
“This department has more interface with the public than any department in the city next to Health and Human Services,” Czaplicki said. His background
Czaplicki was born and raised in Jersey City, part of the fourth generation of Czaplickis to do so, and currently lives in the Heights section of the city with his wife and two young daughters.
He went to public and Catholic grammar schools before graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Jersey City and then attending Pace University in New York City.
He would go on to teach at his alma mater, St. Mary’s, and later at High Tech High School in North Bergen. He still serves as a part-time advisor to the high school.
He also serves on the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission as a vice chairman, which oversees the treatment of sewage from several Northern New Jersey counties including Hudson County. New man in charge
Czaplicki reflected on the reason he was placed in the HEDC director’s chair by Mayor Healy.
“The mayor had to make a decision on who he wanted to come down to HEDC,” Czaplicki said. “The mayor makes those decisions on what is best for Jersey City.”
Czaplicki continued, “In this case, the mayor had spoken to me about some changes he wanted to make since, with the election of Miss Netchert, there was an opening. And Bob Antonicello was doing a great job in an acting capacity, but his role as director of the Redevelopment Agency required much of his attention there.”
Czaplicki will not make decisions aboutthe city’s economic growth alone. He will consult with newly-appointed deputy mayor Rosemary McFadden, who will oversee all HEDC divisions to make sure they all work together to promote the city’s economic growth. He said he will also seek counsel from the various HEDC directors, as well as Antonicello. Czaplicki added that he is “fortunate” to work with the experienced employees at the HEDC.
Czaplicki said in the next 12 months he will be working on a number of issues including the Powerhouse project (a renovation of the old Powerhouse in Downtown Jersey City), redevelopment of Journal Square, the revitalization of the HUB on Martin Luther King Drive in the Bergen Lafayette section of the city. He also said that while he is at the helm of the HEDC, he will focus on the issue of attracting businesses to Jersey City.
“I want to look at business retention – are we doing enough to attract businesses to the city, both large and small?” Czaplicki said. Were there other reasons?
When asked about political rumors reported in the Hudson Reporter’s “Between the Lines” political column that Czaplicki was appointed to the HEDC directors post because of an alleged longtime friendship between Healy and Czaplicki’s father, he answered that was “absolute baloney.”
“My father met Mayor Healy for the first time at a family function,” Czaplicki said. “Mayor Healy’s relationship with the Czaplickis is through me.”
On the issue of whether his appointment to the HEDC was the result of a rumored falling out between himself and Healy, Czaplicki refuted that claim.
“Mayor Healy and I have had a very good relationship while I have worked under him,” Czaplicki said.
But sources inside City Hall and other political observers say Czaplicki was put in HEDC to get him out of City Hall, as he was seen as an embarrassment to Mayor Healy over his mishandling of various problems such as former deputy mayor Ador Equipado’s charging couples for civil wedding ceremonies (a free service). Equipado was eventually dismissed in January and was given probation for his actions.
“This is a case of Healy being unable to fire anyone, which he should have done with Carl a long time ago,” said one longtime political observer. “What really is the surprise is that he would put Carl in such a powerful position when he has no qualifications.”
A longtime developer in the city wondered how Czaplicki would handle meeting with top economic players in Jersey City.
“I like Carl but he is going to be like a child in these meetings, and the investors and developers looking to do business in this city will have someone to manipulate,” said the developer, who did not want his name to be used. Support for Czaplicki
However, Czaplicki has also gotten positive support from various city officials.
As expected, Healy is Czaplicki’s biggest booster. Healy said he requested from the City Council when approving Czaplicki’s hire that they waive the 90-day interim status that is accorded to new directors of city departments before they are hired fulltime.
“I know Carl will do a fine job based on the work he has done in City Hall and I would not have put him there if I didn’t think he was capable,” Healy said.
Healy also said he knows he will be second-guessed for his decision.
Antonicello said last week that he was given an opportunity by Mayor Healy to be the full-time HEDC director but opted to stay at the Redevelopment Agency. But he supports the appointment of Czaplicki as the new HEDC director.
“I think the mayor made a choice and we’re going to support the mayor’s choice,” Antonicello said.
City Planning Director Bob Cotter said, “I look forward to working with Carl.”
City Council President Mariano Vega, after the Sept. 24 City Council meeting, did not regret his vote to approve Czaplicki as head of HEDC.
“Carl’s experience in government will serve him well at HEDC and I wish him nothing but the best.” To comment on the story, contact Ricardo Kaulessar at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.