Montclair Council Chooses New Town Manager To Replace Lapolla

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair has a new township manager: Stephen Marks.

The Montclair Town Council appointed Marks to the post during their meeting on Tuesday evening. He replaces interim town manager Michael Lapolla, and will officially take up the reins on April 1.

The town council reviewed 34 resumes and whittled down the field to nine semi-finalists – and then three finalists – before eventually choosing Marks.

Mayor Renee Baskerville said that Marks brings a “proven track record in executive management and municipal government” to the job, along with strong ties to Montclair.

“It was important for us to select a candidate who understands our township's character and the values of our community,” the mayor said.

Baskerville thanked Lapolla for his “commitment to ensuring a smooth transition” and for extending his time as interim manager.

Deputy Mayor Susan Shin-Andersen said Marks was chosen after a recruitment process that included “several highly qualified candidates.”

“As a newly elected council, we embraced the challenge of finding a permanent manager well-suited for Montclair,” she said. “Mr. Marks is a highly accomplished leader uniquely positioned to take on the challenges of this role.”

The township released the following details about Marks’ qualifications:

“Mr. Marks started his municipal career as the assistant administrator in the City of Hoboken in 2012; he was promoted to administrator in 2016. He then took the position of administrator for the Town of Kearny in 2020. Prior to his work in municipal government, Mr. Marks was Hudson County Planning Director from 2004-2012. Mr. Marks earned his master of public administration degree from Rutgers University and his bachelor of arts in political science from The College of New Jersey. He is a licensed professional planner in New Jersey, certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. He holds professional accreditations from the United States Green Building Council and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. In 2023, Mr. Marks received the prestigious Budd Chavoosian Outstanding Professional Planner Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association.”

Marks also has roots in Montclair, which his great-grandparents and parents called home.

“Montclair is a great community, and I look forward to working with the governing body, our senior management team, employees and our volunteers to make it an even better place to live, work and visit,” Marks said.

The township was supported in the search process by Thomas Czerniecki, president of Jersey Professional Management.

Watch footage from Tuesday's meeting below.

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