Hoboken’s new business administrator, Arch Liston, looks like the sort of man who could stare the municipal budget into submission. But he’ll need to do more than stare. Liston was confirmed as City Hall’s top administrator by the council last week, after spending his career in much smaller communities.
Liston moved up the ranks of the police department in Mt. Holly before becoming police chief and township manager, a job similar to business administrator. Along the way, Liston continued his education, ultimately earning his master’s degree in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania.
In his seven years as township manager in Mt. Holly, Liston handled a $7.5 million budget before moving on to Bridgeton’s $22.5 million budget for four years. Now he will grapple with Hoboken’s $99.8 million budget, and some residents asked whether Liston was ready for such a big leap.
“You invite people to come and get drunk, and then fine them for doing it.” – Helen Hirsch
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“I understand people’s concerns about moving to a larger community,” Liston said. But he said one of the benefits of working in a smaller town was being involved at many different levels, including managing utilities, a state-designated Urban Enterprise business zone, and even a zoo. He said many of the issues are the same no matter the size of the community.
Former Fire Chief Richard Tremitiedi said he spoke with a Bridgeton firefighter who called Liston a “no-nonsense individual” who is “decisive.”
In response to whether Liston can wrestle effectively with a bigger budget in Hoboken, Councilman Michael Lenz said, “The differences between a big town and a small town are easy to overestimate.”
Fiscal monitor Judy Tripodi has been acting as the business administrator for the city since she came to Hoboken in September 2008, but her role may be over by the end of June.
“The rubber meets the road with the business administrator,” Lenz said. And in a shot at Tripodi, he added, “We do not have someone doing this crucial job…We’ve been trying to operate a ship without a captain.”
Salary still an issue
The council has not agreed on Liston’s salary. Mayor Dawn Zimmer recommended that Liston be paid $150,000, but the council has agreed to pay city directors per their salary ordinance, $103,500, as Councilman Michael Russo pointed out.
Liston is declining health insurance from the city, which the administration believes should be taken into consideration when addressing his salary.
Councilwoman Beth Mason asked Liston at the meeting if he would be willing to come to Hoboken for a lower salary, but Liston said that a public meeting was no place for negotiations.
The council will negotiate with Liston behind closed doors and possibly retool their salary ordinance to make arrangements.
“Having a highly qualified B.A. is potentially worth millions of dollars to the city of Hoboken,” Zimmer said in an interview last week.
She said the $150,000 salary is lower than the salary of the top administrator in New Brunswick, Secaucus, North Bergen, Perth Amboy, and other towns of comparative size.
Hiring process
Council President Peter Cunningham said the city received at least 100 resumes for the job after advertising in the New York Times, Newark Star-Ledger, and industry publications. Zimmer had asked Cunningham to create an ad hoc committee to involve the council in the interview process; city directors also participated.
Russo accused Cunningham of circumventing his Administration Committee again, as Cunningham admitted to having done two weeks ago concerning a rule change to the council meeting procedures.
“There seems to be this arrogance of doing things your way,” Russo said. “[You’re] finding time and time again ways of getting around that committee.”
Cunningham said Zimmer requested a new committee for the hiring and that Cunningham had stocked it with the chairs of the finance, public safety, and quality of life committees, councilmen Lenz, Ravi Bhalla, and Nino Giacchi, respectively. It was not publicly announced.
Mason said she called the City Clerks’ office to see the resumes of the applicants not chosen, but was told they were not available. Cunningham said they are available to her through the mayor’s office.
Most of the council members, even some of those who had issues with the process and the price of the hiring, agreed that Zimmer is entitled to pick her top administrator.
The council approved the hiring, 8-1, with only Councilwoman Theresa Castellano dissenting, since Liston’s salary was not decided at the meeting.
“[Liston] was very frank with us,” Giacchi said, “and I believe he will be frank with us and the mayor when the time comes.”
“There will be a tremendous amount of pressure placed on you to perform,” Cunningham told Liston at the meeting.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.
Other business, comments from public
● The council approved Jennifer Wenson-Maier as the city director of environmental services at the meeting. Maier has been serving in that position for months, but the council was given an opportunity to review her resume and her work thus far before a final decision. The council approved her appointment, 9-0.
● The city postponed a final vote on a nearly $2 million bond ordinance until their meeting on May 5, because the ordinance was not publically advertised properly. The bonding is intended to fund the creation of a temporary municipal garage, but the city has yet to reveal where that structure will be located.
● Mason asked whether proposed changes to the city’s rent control ordinance, which has been the focal point of litigation against the city, have been reviewed yet by the city attorney. Mason chaired an ad hoc committee formed last year to review the ordinance, and she said once the attorney’s review is completed, some proposed changes should make their way to the council in the coming weeks.
● The city rejected bids for landscaping and park maintenance and will instead do the work using current city employees. The move was recommended months ago by local gadfly Moe DeGennaro, who has been absent from meetings while recovering from health complications.
● Helen Hirsch, criticizing the city’s need to host the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, responded to council claims that fines will pay for employee overtime. “I think the fines are immoral,” she said. “You invite people to come and get drunk, and then fine them for doing it.”
● The city promoted Jerry Lore to deputy city clerk, replacing former deputy John DePalma, who passed away last year. – TJC