Howell Manager Loses Job; Time Off Questions Remain

HOWELL, N.J.—The Township Council voted unanimously to place Township Manager Brian Geoghegan on a paid three-month leave, terminating him after the issue of his use of paid time off came up during contract negotiations, council members have confirmed.

Mayor Theresa Berger said she could not comment because it is a personnel matter, but she said published reports of his termination are accurate.

Deputy Mayor Pamela Richmond confirmed that the council met in executive session on Tuesday to take the action. Geoghegan was not present at the public session or executive session, Richmond said.

She said Geoghegan was manager for five years and that he is now on paid leave, pending the council's review of the time off he had taken under the old contract. She said state law mandates he is entitled to a "three-month payout."

Richmond said his original contract called for 35 days off but he requested more time off in the new contract negotiations.

The council named Township Attorney Joseph Clark as interim manager. Clark has been acting as deputy manager, Richmond said, and was already involved in the day-to-day running of the administrator's office.

"Joe jumped right in the first week as interim," she said. She confirmed that Caitlin C. Harney of GluckWalrath in Freehold was named township attorney.

According to Geoghegan's LinkedIn page, he retired in 2014 as the Traffic Bureau Supervisor in the Jackson Police Department. He also was business administrator in Ship Bottom and was a borough administrator in Highlands. He was named Howell administrator in 2017.