Sussex County hires Morristown firm to help search for new administrator

NEWTON — The Board of County Commissioners has hired a Morristown company to help with the search for a new county administrator to replace Greg Poff who leaves the position on Monday.

Following a two-hour discussion behind closed doors, the commissioners hired Canning Group for $22,500. The contract does not contain a time limit.  

Poff, who was the administrator for more than five years, announced earlier in the spring he would leave for an administrator job in Randolph. He began his career as deputy administrator in Randolph before he moved to administrative posts in Byram and Rockaway.

While the board looks for a new administrator, John Lovell was hired as interim administrator under a contract set to expire on Aug. 1. The contract can be extended. 

Also on Monday, the board hired Christina Marks as a confidential assistant to the commissioner board. Marks has been working in the county's Division of Senior Services and is the current president of the county employee's union, a post she will resign. 

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The search company was hired "to help the entire commissioner board create and disseminate the job advertisement, making it accessible to anyone who wishes to apply, recruit and solicit top tier talent and help the board make the best hire possible for Sussex County," said Commissioner Director Anthony Fasano, 

He said the selection is the board's responsibility, but will include input from other parties in the county. He said the board is "committed to finding a person with the best possible credentials, who shares our county’s values and is committed to our county’s future."

In other business

While there was no resolution or proclamation before the commissioners during this week's meeting, there was a parade of people to the microphone during the public session aboutrecognizing June as Pride Month.

Last year, a group representing the LGBTQ community asked the county to approve a proclamation honoring the month and a request to fly the Pride flag on one of the county's flagpoles during June. 

The commissioners ended last year's discussion by saying no proclamation had been presented to them prior to the month, therefore they, "by policy," could not act on the request. 

This year, a request for such a proclamation was sent to the board's office, but was not included on the agenda. There was also a "freedom resolution" also in line to get on the agenda, but it too was not. 

Zoe Heath, president of Sussex County Pride, said she would like to have the commissioners approve the proclamation at the board's June meeting, but was not pushing for the flag to be flown, acknowledging the county's policy of only flying the 

American, state and POW flags, as required by state law.

The June 8 agenda won't be set until the previous Friday and likely will be posted on the county website on June 6.