DENNISVILLE –– This township will need to launch a search for a new head of administration after having just completing the process a little over a year ago.

Dennis Township Administrator Jody Alessandrine was recently appointed the finance director in Atlantic City and gave township officials notice of his departure last week.

Township Committee appointed Alessandrine in January 2007 after the management position had been vacant for over three years. Alessandrine, of Ocean City, beat out 21 other candidates for the job after a lengthy interview process.

Committee began the recruitment in 2006, after former Administrator Albert Knoll retired in August 2003. In the interim, administration duties were divided among a myriad of township employes including the mayor, committee members, clerk, engineer, solicitor and many others.

Officials eventually determined that a full-time administrator was needed, which led to Alessandrine’s appointment.

He was charged by committee with keeping taxes low for township residents, a task at which he was successful.

In 2007, township taxpayers saw a .2-cent tax rate decrease and no increase this year despite numerous increased expenses in employee retirement benefits and other areas.

Atlantic City Mayor Scott Evans and Business Administrator Carol Fredericks announced Alessandrine’s appointment in a May 6 press release noting the city’s ongoing financial audit discrepancies.

“Mr. Alessandrine will bring a heightened level of accountability, education and experience to the position,” the released stated.

“His leadership will help the city to overcome internal problems that have caused programs to become jeopardized and the city to be exposed to litigation.”

According to the release, Alessandrine will be charged with developing a structure of fiscal responsibility, identifying areas for internal savings, and helping develop a five-year plan to reduce the burden on taxpayers after the town’s recent property revaluation.

Fredericks told the Herald that Alessandrine’s experience and background in fiscal administration would be a great asset to the city.

“Jody is part of the team I am putting together to help eliminate the repeat audit findings that have plagued the city for years,” she said.

Alessandrine is no stranger to the city that’s “always turned on.”

Immediately prior to his appointment in Dennis Township, Alessandrine worked for two years as a sports marketing manager and foundation director for the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority where he coordinated with the city for authority events and formed a non-profit organization working on grants and developing partnership initiatives.

He also worked for several years as a marketing manager for the Trump Organization and was an elementary school teacher in Atlantic City for a time.

In an interview last year, Alessandrine told the Herald that public service was very important to him.

Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, Alessandrine said, “I really cut my teeth on public service covering municipal government in Chester and Delaware counties for a small radio station in Pennsylvania.”

“I would record 60 or 90 second clips on the happenings at council and school board meetings and became fascinated by the process. The people involved impressed me; mostly volunteers who just wanted to make things better for their community. That’s when I realized I wanted to get involved in public service.”

Alessandrine has served on Ocean City’s City Council for 10 years and twice ran unsuccessfully for mayor of the family resort. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Villanova University and a master’s degree in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Alessandrine was scheduled to appear before city council for advice and consent on May 7.

If approved by council, Alessandrine is expected to start work on May 12 with a salary of approximately $90,000. His starting salary in Dennis Township was $65,000.

See the May 14 print edition of the Herald for the complete story.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com