Amidst the tumultuous and contentious world that often characterizes Bloomfield politics, Yoshi Manale was selected to be the new township administrator at the regularly-scheduled council meeting on Monday night.
The appointment followed the resignation of township administrator Fred Carr, which was unanimously accepted by the council. Mayor Raymond McCarthy, Robert Ruane and Peggy O’Boyle Dunigan voted in favor of Manale, while Nicolas Joanow and Janice Mayly voted against. Michael Venezia abstained from the vote, and Bernard Hamilton was absent.
A 2003 graduate of Seton Hall University, Manale worked with Richard Codey, both when Codey was governor as well as when he was lieutenant governor, in the position of senate aid for Labor/Economic Growth Issues. Manale was also the chief of staff to Senator Raymond Lesniak (D-20) from 2006-2009.
Manale, 31, admitted that this was his “first real experience in Bloomfield and in Essex County.” However, he said he was excited to have the potential to accomplish so much.
“The position was presented to me as a challenge,” said Manale. “I felt [the position of township administrator] seemed to be a great opportunity to be at the beginning of something and really see it grow. We’re at the beginning of what Bloomfield can be for the next ten years. And I think the residents want a new direction and new opportunities.”
When asked about the sometimes vitriolic council meetings and exchanges between the council members, Manale laughed and said that — although he hasn’t experienced it yet — he hopes to stay out of it and weather the storm.
“The politics can be taken care of by the politicians,” said Manale. “My job is to manage the city, and provide them the tools to make decisions.”
By the end of his first day, Manale said he felt like he had been placed in a “whirlwind,” and it didn’t help that he had the stomach flu. Nonetheless, he was optimistic about how he and the township will move forward.
“There is a great bunch of people in the town hall,” said Manale. “It looks like a they have a lot of great of ideas on how to improve the city and the services. And I’ll try to give them a voice. The city really needs fresh ideas.”
Creating an identity is one of the crucial problems facing Bloomfield right now. The township needs to decide what direction it ultimately wants to go in when it comes to its development problems, train stations and open spaces. If Bloomfield wants to be a “destination” for people and businesses instead of a detour, said Manale, all of these issues and more will need to be ameliorated.
Seems like a nice guy, but it sort of reeks of political patronage. Worked with Codey. Lemme guess, close to our Essex County Exec. The machine helped elect the Mayor. He cuts his teeth at a nice township job before moving up the ladder.
Yoshi-san, good luck in the new position. I hope you have some balls to say no to the machine when it wants a favor.
Funny but as of the close of Monday night’s Bloomfield town council meeting Mr. manale hadn’t been formally appointed (needs a confirming vote in open session) and his salary had not been negotiated and approved by the town council.
So, he’s started before he is actually approved, before his salary has been negotiated, and before he is sworn in.
Dear Mr. Manale- Bloomfield’s mayor has already decided that Bloomfield HAS an identity- it is one of ignoring approved processes and the SUNSHINE LAWS.
Incidentally, did you interview for the position – if so, with who????
check out the Werner Lesniak connection.
Our township attorney also is on their payroll
https://www.weinerlesniak.com/
RAYMOND J. LESNIAK (senior partner) heads the Corporate Law Department. He is a former Director of Legal Services for the State of New Jersey and Planning Board Attorney for the City of Elizabeth. He publishes and lectures widely on Environmental Law and has been a guest lecturer at Yale Law School. He is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A., 1971) and St. John’s University (J.D. with honors 1974). Bar admissions: New Jersey; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?leg=61
““There is a great bunch of people in the town hall,” said Manale. “It looks like a they have a lot of great of ideas on how to improve the city and the services. And I’ll try to give them a voice. The city really needs fresh ideas.””
Really ? Who are these people? The janitorial staff? The girl scouts dropping off cookies? I know who it isn’t….
That great bunch of people that he wants to represent are the civil servants. Most of them don’t live in Bloomfield.
HEY YOSHI how about talking to the CUSTOMERS aka the RESIDENTS OF BLOOMFIELD- to find out what WE WANT. Rwemember, We will be paying your salary one it’s negotiated.
Remember the old saying THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. If not I suggest that you check out Stew Leonard’s web site
https://www.stewleonards.com/press/07Eggnogstory.cfm
“On his way to work one morning, Stew drove by a monument yard, where they were unloading granite. Suddenly, Stew got an idea. He stopped and bought a huge slab of granite from Mr. Bates. It weighed 6,000 pounds. Then Stew had him deliver the rock to the front door of his store, and had their stonemason chisel the store’s new policy into its face:
Rule 1 The Customer Is Always Right!
Rule 2 : If The Customer Is Ever Wrong, Reread Rule 1. “
“The city really needs fresh ideas.”
And we’re going to get them from whom? The same guy who’s been in charge for the last nine years along with his two council retreads? Oh wait, we have a 29 yo council rep and a 31 yo township administrator with no experience in that position. Wonderful, just wonderful.
Excellent posts belletones, keep ’em coming.
too bad Mr. Manale doesn’t appear to be reading. or to know who is paying his salary.
“The customer is always right.”
REALLY?
I prefer this philosophy in many instances:
http://www.agileproductdesign.com/blog/2009/images/psychiatry_couch.jpg
Not in this instance croiag – not if you are a taxpayer in Bloomfield.
Manale was hired without an interview with the Bloomfield Town Council and showed up to work without having his salary approved by the town council.
The taxpayers in Bloomfield are the CUSTOMERS. We want transparency in our government and we want the approved processes followed and not a dictator in office.
In this case the CUSTOMER IS RIGHT!