Palisades Park replaces fired borough administrator with interim hire at $100 per hour

PALISADES PARK — The borough administrator and his deputy, who were fired just weeks apart last month, have been replaced.

Raymond Herr, a former Fairview Republican councilman, was hired this month on an interim basis at $100 an hour. His contract runs from March 6 until June 30.

Herr previously worked as a municipal chief financial officer for Oakland, Westwood and Paramus and as an administrator and chief financial officer for Dumont.

He will work for the borough at least three days and up to 20 hours per week, Mayor Chong "Paul" Kim said.

"We're trying to pick up all the stuff that hasn't been addressed and doing it properly," Kim said. "What I noticed is the governing body was not included in many of the stuff going on. The borough administrator was making decisions and doing stuff that was not disclosed or addressed."

Candidates for the position were found through research, referrals and recommendations, Kim said, and a job listing was posted. Kim said he made the recommendation to the council to hire Herr after other candidates were interviewed. He said Herr went through three interviews.

Last month the council fired Administrator David Lorenzo, who had been in the post since 2008 at a salary of $204,000. Kim has previously said Lorenzo was not fired because of a specific cause, but rather for not seeing "eye to eye with the council."

Lorenzo had two years left on his contract when he was placed on administrative leave with pay in November. At the time, Kim said the borough was investigating his actions regarding a 2020 comptroller's report, a shared service agreement with the library and the handling of requests for bids and proposals.

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One day after he was placed on administrative leave, Lorenzo filed a federal lawsuit against the borough, the mayor and Councilman Suk "John" Min, claiming retaliation for protected speech, conspiracy to violate civil rights and common law conspiracy to violate civil rights.

Lorenzo's lawsuit says he was targeted after the Palisades Park Democratic Club — of which he serves as president — withdrew its support for Min and ceased campaigning on his behalf.

In January, Deputy Administrator Austin Ashley was terminated from his position during the reorganization meeting.

In the absence of a borough administrator and deputy, the mayor said, he has been acting as the executive officer, with help from council members and the borough attorney.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Palisades Park replaces fired borough administrator with interim hire