Czech named to county's top post Search firm VP will serve as interim admin. in Middletown BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer Middletown Township Administrator Robert Czech has a new job that will replace the word "township" in his job description with "county." Bob Czech At the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders meeting on Nov. 21, Czech was appointed the new Monmouth County administrator, replacing Louis Paparozzi, who retired on Aug. 1. Czech, 53, was unanimously elected to a three-year term and will begin his new job on Dec. 3. As county administrator, Czech will earn $170,000 a year and will oversee an annual operating budget of more than $450 million. "There is no other person I would recommend for this job than Bob Czech," Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said. "He's been a great township administrator and will be a great county administrator." Czech, a resident of Sea Girt, will oversee the day-to-day operations of county government comprised of 3,500 county employees in more than 60 departments. The county also has the largest library system in the state, a nationally accredited park system, and a community college and vocational school system. His purview also includes coordination of emergency management and maintenance of 400 miles of paved roads. "I especially look forward to working with the employees to meet the daily challenges associated with the delivery of these important government services," Czech said in a press release. "All county employees work extremely hard every day to deliver these services." Czech is a licensed attorney who began his public service career in the state Division of Local Government Services within the Department of Community Affairs. Before taking the position with Middletown, he was the public manager in Montclair Township as well as several other municipalities in Essex and Passaic counties. He also worked for the law firm of Scarini & Hollenbeck, Secaucus, prior to becoming the administrator of Middletown in 2000 at a starting salary of $103,000. After being named to the post of county administrator, Czech resigned from his administrator's role in Middletown. The Middletown Township Committee has since authorized a contract with Jersey Professional Management to recruit an experienced professional to replace Czech. The firm's fee for the recruitment process is approximately $11,500, according to a press release, with a goal of 90 days to find a new administrator. Jersey Professional Management last assisted Middletown in 2000 when they helped recruit Czech for Middletown. The firm has also helped more than 300 New Jersey municipalities since 1988. "We want to find the best professional to serve as Middletown's administrator," Scharfenberger said. "Jersey Professional Management will provide a fair process to help recruit a quality professional." In the interim, Fredrick E. Jahn, vice president of Jersey Professional Management, will serve as interim administrator beginning in December as part of the contract with Jersey Professional Management. Jahn said in a press release that he has no interest in continuing as township administrator beyond the interim basis and will not apply for the job. Previously, Jahn has served as the administrator in Freehold. He will be paid a rate of $100 per hour and is expected to work no more than 20 hours per week. Czech will be only the fourth county administrator in Monmouth since the position was created in 1974. Prior to Paparozzi, Robert J. Collins held the position from 1984 to 2002. The first administrator was Ted Narozanik, who held the position for 10 years before becoming a county freeholder. Czech is excited to start his new position and work on the county level. "I am very pleased to be working on behalf of Monmouth County residents," Czech said. "Monmouth County has an outstanding reputation for being well run, and I look forward to working for the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the county departments in their efforts to continue to maintain and improve the excellent quality of life we have all come to value and enjoy."