Longtime Township Administrator Sits On His Last Meeting

For 20 years, Township Administrator Joe Verruni has sat on the dais for the public meetings of the Township Committee.

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Verruni is set to retire at the end of the month. The Township Committee is slated for only one workshop session before he leaves. And Verruni's replacement, .

Verruni was lauded for his hard work and his dedication by each member of the Township Committee Wednesday.

"Joe has always thought of Wall Township as Number One,'' Mayor Jeffrey Foster said. "You're a good man. And you'll be missed.''

Verruni did not give a speech from the dais, but thanked each member for their comments. He posed for pictures with committee members following the meeting.

"I wish you the best,'' Deputy Mayor Todd Luttman said. "I know you've waited for this time for a very long time, and I hope you enjoy yourself.''

Bertrand, former borough administrator in Sayreville, was chosen from a field of about 40 applicants from as far away as New Mexico trying to get Verruni's post, officials have said.

Bertrand held the administrator position in that town of about 42,000 from 2003 to 2011. He was fired from Sayreville in January after Democrats gained a majority on the Borough Council, according to a local news outlet covering the town.

Bertrand holds a undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Kean University.

Bertrand will be paid a $155,000 salary, according to his contract. In 2010, according to state records, Sayreville paid him $121,632.