Politics & Government
Scotch Plains May Hire New Town Manager Wednesday
The position has been vacant since the resignation of Henry Underhill in March.
In a special meeting Wednesday night, Scotch Plains council may finally fill the job of town manager, which has been vacant since the resignation of Henry Underhill in March.
The council began interviewing candidates on June 20. Wednesday night's meeting (beginning with an executive session at 5 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the municipal building), may lead to an appointment for the position. It will also include discussion of the potential police merger with Fanwood.
On March 13, Scotch Plains council held an executive session to discuss personnel matters, which was followed by an open public meeting where it was announced that Township Manager Henry Underhill had put in his resignation.
The resolution to accept Underhill’s resignation was voted on by the council with a 4 to 1 vote, in which Councilman Bo Vastine voted no. The reason for Underhill's resignation was not released.
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Vastine agreed with Marcus and stated that Underhill would be missed.
“In the time that Henry Underhill has been here he has endured two mayors, a hurricane, the removal of twelve town providers and the budget process,” he was quoted saying in The Alternative Press. "His knowledge and demeanor will be sorely missed.”
Since his resignation, Marcus has repeatedly demanded an explanation from Mayor Glover, saying Underhill was forced to resign.
Underhill officialy became the township administrator for Scotch Plains on Sept. 18, 2012. Prior to his appointment in Scotch Plains he briefly served as the business administrator in Little Falls.
In the months before Underhill became administrator and the months since his resignation, Zoning Officer Robert LaCosta and Township Clerk Bonnie Lacina were co-acting as the township managers.
Nicole Bitette previously contributed reporting used in this story.
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