Arch Liston Named Manager on a Permanent Basis

was appointed the permanent township manager during the Council meeting on Tuesday night, March 13.

Along with his appointment came the announcement that Liston will be taking furloughs along with the rest of the township employees.

“We sat in a meeting and he said, ‘Galloway’s in a tough spot,’” Mayor Don Purdy said. “Here’s someone who hasn’t been furloughed in the past and he didn’t need to take a furlough. He said, ‘We’ll look at it again in September, and if I need to be here five days a week then I will be.’”

According to Purdy, Liston said he would “lead by example.”

“When the employees were on furloughs and they had to (do other jobs), they had to do it and know there were other people still in the building,” Purdy said. “This is not something we negotiated with him. It’s something he came to on his own. We thank you.”

Liston’s salary is $116,000 a year, but with the furlough days taken into account, his salary is $93,200 a year.

Earlier this year, Galloway Patch reported that township employees would take 12 furlough days this year in accordance with an agreement between the township and Local 210 reached last  According to Purdy, Liston plans to do at least the same.

Last year, the union filed a grievance with the township to recover money township employees lost over furlough days. The employees were furloughed in 2010, and then-Township Manager Roger Tees extended those furloughs into 2011.

The employees did not recover their money, but part of the agreement called for employees to take 12 furlough days in exchange for an assurance that no one would be laid off for two years.

Liston was named permanent manager Tuesday night after being named the interim acting township manager on Jan. 31, when previous manager Steve Bonanni . Bonanni was acting township manager for just over a year, beginning on Jan. 25, 2011.

Liston previously served as business administrator in Hoboken, and before that, Bridgeton, before coming to Galloway in January.

“Thank you for your support,” Liston said to the council. “I hope to do the best possible job for the township.”

“Arch gets right to the point,” Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola said. “He has a lot of experience and our problems are not unique to him. He’s given us some good perspective.”

“Our trust is with you,” Purdy told Liston. “You have a long road here and the people are looking to you for guidance. You have a lot more knowledge and experience than us, and (members of council) are looking to you for guidance. We need you to run this town, and bring in some stability.

“Don’t let the residents of Galloway Township down.”