Heights Hires Temporary Financial Manager

The borough's bills will get paid on time even if there is no full-time chief financial officer working in town hall.

That's the pledge made by John Barrett, owner of PM Consultants, a financial services firm contracted by the borough council on Monday to manage the town's accounts.

With only the GOP council members remaining on the dais--Democratic Councilman John Brennan, Jr had to leave the meeting early for personal reasons--the governing body hired Barrett's firm by 4-0 vote.

Brick Township-based PM Consultants will be paid an hourly rate of $95. However, the borough is not to pay the firm more than $17,499 altogether during the length of the contract which expires on Dec. 31.

Barrett, who currently works full-time as the chief financial officer in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, also promised that he will only send certified municipal finance officers to review the books at Spring Lake Heights Borough Hall.

"My company offers a temporary service to make sure your offices operate efficiently," Barrett said.

PM Consulting's employees will either work on the borough's financial records remotely from using laptop computers or on site in town hall during regular business hours, he said.

Barrett also said he will be available on an emergency basis via cell phone or email.

"We'll work around your schedule," Barrett told the governing body.

The contract will fill the void left when former CFO Colleen Lapp left for a similar position at a higher salary in the Borough of Red Bank, Barrett said. He added that he is not seeking the CFO job himself.  

"We want to make sure that there is a clean transition from your former CFO to your new CFO," Barrett said. "I'm not looking to be your new full-time CFO."

Lapp had suggested hiring a financial services firm such as Barrett's to handle finances during the time when the borough is without a CFO according to Councilwoman Sara King.

Although King and Councilwoman Patty Cindea have interviewed serveral candidates since Lapp left on Aug. 20, they have not filled the position. Efforts to bring Lapp back on a part-time basis have been unsuccessful.

"We haven't found the right fit," King said. "Colleen doesn't have the availability. This is a temporary fix."

In reply to a question from Councilman Richard Diver, Barrett indicated that he will look at using a payroll service to process the municipal payroll.

To ensure that borough employees still get paid bi-weekly, the council hired borough employee Joe Masterson as a part-time payroll officer on Sept. 12.