ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—On June 2, Jewel Thompson-Chin, Englewood’s interim City Manager, met with dozens of residents at the Englewood Public Library from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thompson-Chin was appointed last month after Ed Hynes was relieved of the position. Hynes’ termination, exacerbated by a lawsuit being brought against the city by nine firefighters, as well as a very publicized dispute between two council members, has left many residents apprehensive as to the direction in which Englewood would be heading.
Several elected officials attended the “Meet and Greet,” including Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, NAACP Bergen County President Jeff Carter, Englewood City Council members Charles Cobb, Wayne Hamer, Cheryl Rosenberg, Michael Cohen and Council President Katharine Glynn. They were joined by many prominent Englewood notables, such as Police Chief Lawrence Suffern, Joyce Dudley, Aleta Frezzell, Lisa Witsotsky, Englewood Board of Education Member Donovan Rodrigues and Englewood Public Library Director John Arthur.
Thompson-Chin chatted one-on-one to discuss a number of issues, such as repairs to the city’s fields and parks and exceptions to ordinances.
“I’ve received a lot of positive feedback, especially since the budget has been introduced” Thompson-Chin said. “People are looking for fairness, which I hope to provide. I am contractual and temporary, so I am looking to address the issues that are most immediate such as issues of compliance.”
The city manager holds one of the most important positions in Englewood, serving as the city’s chief executive and administrative official, with the authority to oversee the heads of all city departments that are not statutory appointments. The city manager’s responsibilities include carrying out all policies established by the council and administrating all affairs of the city within the jurisdiction of the council. The manager also appoints all department heads and all other officers, negotiates contracts for the city subject to the approval of the city council, makes recommendations concerning the nature and location of city improvements, and executes city improvements as determined by the city council. Among other tasks, the city manager must see that all terms and conditions imposed in favor of the city or its inhabitants in any statute, public utility franchise or other contract are faithfully kept and performed, and upon knowledge of any violation call it to the attention of the city council.
Most importantly, the city manager prepares the city budget and submits it to the council for approval and keeps the council advised of the city’s financial condition.
Thompson-Chin is upbeat and looking forward to carrying out these tasks. She brings years of exerience to the job, having served for nine years as borough administrator in Tenafly, and over more than 30 years in various towns as a municipal manager and business administrator. She also serves on the executive board of the New Jersey Municipal Management Association.
Thompson-Chin began her public management career performing planning and development activities for Newark, served as Paterson’s director of community development, and she held municipal manager and business administrator positions in Irvington, Plainfield and Orange before joining Tenafly as borough administrator in 2010.
Thompson-Chin has also worked as a senior project consultant on local and statewide transportation planning projects and as a Corporate Six Sigma Analyst for a medical diagnostics company. She has a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in urban studies, both from Rutgers University. In addition, she has received certificates in public sector labor relations and human resources administration from Rutgers University.
When Thompson-Chin was asked what assets she brings to the position of city manager, she replied, “My ability to analyze situations and propose solutions to issues that need focus and resolution.”