Moorestown Council To Consider New Township Manager Monday Night

MOORESTOWN, NJ — A little less than a week after Moorestown Council accepted the resignation of Scott Carew as Township Manager, council appears set to appoint the person who will take his place.

Council will consider a resolution to appoint current Deputy Township Manager and Chief Financial Officer Tom Merchel as Township Manager when it meets on Monday night at town hall. The workshop portion of the meeting begins at 7 p.m., followed by the official action meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Merchel would be paid $42,000, according to the resolution, and would continue to act as the Township’s Chief Financial Officer as well as its manager. He would be paid separately for each position.

The resolution is up for discussion, and is not a part of the consent agenda, which is reserved for matters considered to be routine in nature with no discussion needed.

Council unanimously accepted Carew’s resignation, effective immediately, during a special meeting at town hall on Tuesday night, Jan. 17. The official reason for his resignation was so he could pursue other opportunities, although his resignation letter and the terms of his separation agreement with the township are not yet available.

Merchel has been the acting manager since then, and the resolution states that Merchel has the necessary experience and academic credentials and is, therefore, qualified for the position of Township Manager.

He is already listed as the Deputy Manager, and served as acting manager following the departure of Chris Schulz and prior to Carew being hired as Township Manager in 2011.

Merchel was among the candidates under consideration for the job before Carew was hired from among 40-50 candidates who applied, according to the Moorestown Patch story dated Oct. 13, 2011.

In Moorestown's form of government, council members are elected directly by the people, and council elects the mayor at its annual reorganization meeting. It is the Township Manager, who is appointed by council, who is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the township.

There are 17 items on the consent agenda, including an item that calls for Senior Accountant Kathleen S. Rosmando to be authorized to sign checks for some township accounts in the place of the now-departed Carew.

There are two proposed ordinances set for introduction, including one concerning salary ranges for supervisory and technical employees, and certain part-time employees. To view those salary ranges, click here.

The other calls for the appropriation of $650,000, and the borrowing of $617,500 for the replacement of synthetic turf for the middle field at Wesley Bishop Park.

To view the full agenda, visit the agenda center at moorestown.nj.us.