Mercantante named Mid'twn administrator Committee promotes award-winning director of planning BY JAMIE ROMM Staff Writer Middletown Township Planning Director Anthony Mercantante will have to pack up his desk and switch offices at 1 Kings Highway because he has been promoted. Anthony Mercantante The Middletown Township Committee Monday night voted unanimously to appoint Mercantante to the position of township administrator. He will replace interimAdministrator Frederick Jahn, who has been serving in that role since Robert Czech assumed the post of Monmouth County administrator in November. "I think I speak for a lot of people - we are absolutely thrilled and ecstatic that Tony is stepping into the very big shoes left by Bob Czech," said Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger. "It's not an easy job, it's very challenging. We really need somebody like Tony with his knowledge of our town, as he is a resident and has got a lot at stake and a vested interest. And I look forward to, and am honored to be, working with you." Mercantante said little more than thank you, but was obviously pleased. In a press release, he said, "I have always felt honored by the opportunity to serve the community that I live and raisemy children in and I amthrilled that the Township Committee has shown this kind of confidence in me. I know this will be a challenge and I plan to take it head on." As township administrator and public safety director, Mercantante will earn $125,000 a year and will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 42-squaremile municipality. Themunicipality has approximately 338 employees and operates on an annual budget of approximately $60 million. Mercantante, 50, has lived in Middletown since 1966, except for a five-year period living in California, and he has worked for its municipal government for more than 20 years. He has served as Middletown's director of planning and community development since 1989 and was the township's assistant planner from 1980 to 1984. Mercantante was also employed as a senior planner for the city of Signal Hill, Calif., and Heyer, Gruel andAssociates,NewBrunswick, a private consulting firm. After a four-month search, Middletown officials found their new administrator. "Mr. Mercantante has been an exceptional planner and I amconfident he will be an exceptional township administrator," Scharfenberger said in a press release. "His experience as a resident and a municipal manager makes him an invaluable asset. I look forward toworkingwith himin his new role as our administrator." Mercantante, a licensed planner, holds a master's degree in public policy and administration from California State University Long Beach, and a bachelor's degree in geography from Rowan University. He is a 1976 graduate of Middletown High School. His accomplishments include preparing Middletown's award-winning master plan, "Into the Future…Vision 2012," and hewas recognized with a 1994 Monmouth County Open Space Planning Award and two Monmouth County PlanningMeritAwards. InOctober 2007,Mercantante received a merit award in recognition of the work done by the township in establishing a task force to revitalize the Campbell's Junction business district. Scharfenberger once referred toMercantante as the "go-to guy"when it came to talking about the Dock and Roll Shuttle service between the Middletown Train Station and the Bayshore Ferry Terminal, Belford. Along with Scharfenberger, he has been in the forefront of the township's efforts to reach out to the state Council on Affordable Housing. He has spoken about the township's affordable housing requirements and defended Middletown's use of regional contribution agreements bywhich the township pays another municipality a per-unit fee to assume a portion of its affordable housing obligation. He also has been an outspoken critic of escalating RCAcosts. Mercantante lives in Belford, with his wife and their two children.