Morrell seeks Howell's twp. manager post

Morrell seeks Howell’s twp. manager post
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Although no official announcement has been made, one contender for the position of township manager in Howell is former Mayor Harvey Morrell.

Morrell, the retired chief of the Howell Police Department, is presently the public safety director in Allentown, a part-time position he has held for nine years and for which he is paid an annual salary of $33,000.

Morrell, who said he campaigned door to door with Mayor Joseph M. DiBella when DiBella was a Republican councilman and seeking the mayor’s office in the 2004 election, wanted the appointment to complete the third year of DiBella’s unexpired term on the Township Council. The appointment eventually went to Wayne Lucey.

Lucey completed the third year of DiBella’s unexpired council term (2005) after DiBella was elected mayor in November 2004.

The final year of DiBella’s council term (2006) was on the ballot in November and Lucey was defeated by Bob Walsh, who is now serving on the council.

Morrell confirmed to a reporter that he interviewed for the position of township manager several weeks ago, but said he had not been given any assurances the job was his.

When asked if he is a member of any political organization, Morrell said he was a “dues-paying member of the United Republican Club.” That is the same Howell Republican political organization of which DiBella and Lucey are members. Walsh was a member of the United Republican Club before he ran for office and won as an independent candidate.

As of press time this week, DiBella said officials were still going to be interviewing applicants for the position of manager and expected to announce a decision by mid-month.

The position of township manager opened late in 2005 when the council voted to have Bruce Davis, who had been serving in the dual role of manager and township clerk for five years, return to his duties as clerk. Davis has held the position of clerk for more than 26 years and has tenure in that job.

Morrell said he has been a Howell resident since 1972 and said all five of his grown children still reside in the township.

In 1992 he became Howell’s first directly elected mayor and served one term (1993-96). He was defeated in a bid for re-election by Democrat Timothy J. Konopka, who served two terms (1997-2004).

Morrell was Howell’s first police chief, serving from 1971-90.

After leaving the Howell Police Department, Morrell went on to serve as the public safety director in Colts Neck from 1990-93. He then accepted the public safety director’s position in the western Monmouth County borough of Allentown.

According to township finance officer Jeffrey Filiatreault, Howell’s salary ordinance provides for a salary of up to $95,000 for the position of township manager. He said the mayor and council could vote to increase that amount.

Davis will be paid a salary of $89,000 plus benefits in 2006 for his continuing position as municipal clerk. He had been receiving a salary of $55,400 as manager in addition to an $86,506 salary as clerk. His dual role carried one benefits package.

Filiatreault has said a new manager will cost an additional $25,000 to $30,000 in benefits that include health insurance, vacation time and sick days.