Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner is likely going to receive a six-month contract with the town of West New York  as a “special projects” consultant as they continue to search for a new business administrator.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Turner confirmed that he intends to once again work at West New York Town Hall, effective November 1, on a temporary basis of six months.
The Weehawken mayor, who is currently the chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) – as well as the business administrator for Sires when he was the mayor of West New York – told Hudson County View he has been tapped for a “management consultant” position.
He added that his salary details haven’t been finalized yet and although he’s been seen at 428 60th Street on several occasions in the past couple of weeks, he will not be paid until next month – assuming the board of commissioners approve his appointment at tomorrow night’s meeting.
Matthew Watkins last day as West New York BA, where he earned $196,000 a year, was October 2. He left to serve in the same post in Bloomfield.
Turner is essentially the de facto BA until a full-time employee is hired to fill the void left behind by Watkins.
A search committee to find a new BA, headed by Revenue and Finance Commissioner Susan Colacurcio, was formed at last month’s meeting.
Mayor Felix Roque, who briefly used Turner, also the board chairman of North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, as a consultant to the town shortly after he was first elected in 2011, gushed about the positive attributes that the veteran mayor brings to the table.
“This guy brings a world of experience: having worked in the Albio Sires administration, being the mayor of a town that has actually kept taxes low – and has seen tremendous growth in the past 10 years,” Roque explained.
“Now, he’s going to be overseeing special projects. In the next four years, my primary goals are to build veterans housing, fix the roads and continue building new parks and provide more police presence in the streets. That’s my goal. I need him to help me secure the grants and make my dream a reality.”
The latest copy of the latest West New York Board of Commissioners meeting agenda does not appear to have an item regarding Turner or a consulting position, but it will be added before tomorrow evening’s 7 p.m. start time, officials said.