New Town Manager Lacks Experience, Scotch Plains Mayor Says

Scotch Plains Mayor Kevin Glover said a lack of experience is the main reason he voted against the hiring of new town manager Jerry Giaimis.

Giaimis was hired at a salary of $120,000 per year at a special council meeting on June 27, filling a vacancy that was left by the resignation of Henry Underhill in March. The council began interviewing candidates on June 20. 

"Why I voted no is because I didn’t believe he had enough experience, in my opinion, to manage the municipality," Glover told Patch. "Totaling his previous employment in Randolph and Vernon, he has approximately five years of experience. I just think that after the issue that we’ve gone through with the loss of Henry Underhill, I was hoping to have someone that would have had more experience."

Giaimis, 35, comes to Scotch Plains from Vernon where he was the town manager/administrator. Before his three years in Vernon, Giaimis was the assistant township manager in Randolph. He attended Rutgers Newark where he studied political science and then Central Michigan University where he received his masters degree in public administration. He also served as a councilman in Washington Borough from 2001 to 2004. 

Glover also alluded to an unsavory article about Giaimis he read on the Internet as another reason he voted no. 

"Having gone on the Internet and searched him, I saw some things that gave me pause," Glover told Patch. He added that he felt the decision was rushed and didn't understand the urgency given that it's the summer, when not much business is conducted. 

The ConservativeNewJersey.com article alleges that Giaimis is involved with a political action committee created to skirt campaign finance laws. It adds that he "had a number of outstanding legal judgments against him and – five days after the Vernon Council formally approved his hiring – Giaimis filed for bankruptcy." 

For his part, Giaimis told Patch "the majority of the article is untrue and highly misleading" and that the author was politically motivated.

As to the mayor's comments on his experience, Giaimis replied, "I'm just happy the overwhelming majority recognizes me as the top choice for the position." 

Councilmembers welcomed Giaimis enthusiastically after the June 27 vote.

"I think I’m very much looking forward to your fresh perspective on the issues we have facing us, and I very much look forward to seeing creative and forward-thinking solutions to some of these issues," said Councilman Bo Vastine. 

"This is probably the most exciting thing we’ve done since I joined the council," said Councilwoman Colleen Gialanella. "Jerry comes to us very highly recommended with an outstanding background. I have no doubt he will move the town in a very positive direction."

Mayor Glover said although he didn't support the recommendation he wishes Giaimis success and good luck. 

"I'm very excited to be in Scotch Plains," Giaimis told Patch after the decision. "It’s a wonderful community with a long history of good management. I was very impressed with the recruitment process. There were a lot of very good questions from every member of council. I think Scotch Plains is definitely one of the premier communities in the state and I want to carry on that tradition. A lot of town managers talk about jobs that open up – when you see Scotch Plains, you say 'wow.'"

Giaimis will officially take over the position on July 17 and plans to move to Scotch Plains from Vernon. He says he has studied up on the town as best he can before starting the job. 

"Obviously the major current issues are the sewer utility, police merger, budgetary issues. I've also heard concerns with the health department and the services Scotch Plains is receiving. I studied what I could without having access to all of the information."

Giamis says his budgeting philosophy is a delicate balance of services and costs. 

"You’re always taking a careful approach to budgeting where you are analyzing all of your expenses and look for where you can make savings," says Giaimis, "but you still have to provide a high level of service, a level people have come to expect, and there's a tough balance that goes along with that."