RED BANK, NJ — James Gant, an administrator of two area municipalities, has been named the Borough Manager for Red Bank in a unanimous vote of the Borough Council Friday afternoon.
Gant, introduced as Jim, is 38 and is currently the Sea Girt borough administrator. Raised in Manchester, he was the Manchester administrator prior to the Sea Girt post, he said.
He lives in Matawan with his wife Amanda and his two children, both born at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank. So the borough already holds a special place in his heart, he told the council Friday.
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All council members praised the work McConnell did handling the two jobs.
"We are eternally grateful for all that you've done," said Deputy Mayor Kate Triggiano, who said any municipality seeking his services as administrator would be "lucky to get you."
With the appointment of Gant, she said, this is "truly a new beginning"; this is "the star on the tree."
In adding his praise to McConnell, Mayor Billy Portman joked "I speak to you more than my wife. Literally, there was not a day when you've taken your foot off the gas."
Portman said that, with Gant in position, "I'm looking forward to this next year, tackling all the things on our wish list."
Gant is a graduate of The College of New Jersey in Sociology and has an M.A. in Human Resources Development from Seton Hall University.
He was administrator in two diverse towns: Sea Girt (since January 2021) and Manchester (July 2018 to January 2021, where he also held other positions). And he said he has experience in a wide range of municipal management issues as a result. He rose up through the ranks in Manchester, starting in 911 dispatch and going on to supervise that department.
Gant said the Red Bank post is a "privilege I do not take lightly." He said he is "thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to the borough's growth and prosperity."
As a leader of the borough government staff, he said he believes in collaboration, inclusivity and transparency. And he said he looks forward to working with the staff to deliver quality services to residents.
The appointment of Gant, who was hired under an annual contract at a salary of $194,500, according to officials, puts the final major piece of the borough's nonpartisan government in place.
Voters in November 2022 approved a change to a nonpartisan Council/Manager form of government that necessitated the new position. The manager's position is mandatory under state law in this form of government.
At the election May 9 of this year, the team that supported a change of government was put in place on the Borough Council.
Attorney Michael L. Collins, who had been the Charter Study Commission attorney, made a presentation to the council and public that included an explanation of the manager role. You can see his presentation on the meeting video here.
Under the new form of government, the council hires the manager and borough clerk, but every other employee is hired by the manager, who can act quickly to fill openings in the borough's departments, Collins said.
In terms of the position, the manager can be removed by a simple majority of the council. The council can waive a residency requirement.
The manager may negotiate contracts, but they are subject to council approval. The manager is also responsible for preparing the budget, also subject to council approval.
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.