COURT HOUSE — Township Committee unanimously passed a “resolution of removal” regarding Business Administrator Mark Mallett during its Wed., Jan. 18 meeting. The resolution, however, is more of a technicality than an official removal.

“This was a little out of the ordinary,” said Mayor Dan Lockwood, “but it deals with our Business Administrator’s contract and it became kind of necessary given the way the con-tract was set up initially that we take this step prior to moving forward.”

According to solicitor Dorothy Incarvito-Garrabrant, Mallett’s contract was written with a provision that in order for renegotiation or reappointment to take place, there needs be a notice of removal. “It’s more or less a technical requirement of the contract, than it is an actual substantive removal,” said the solicitor.

“There are some things thy want to revisit regarding the terms of the contract,” Mallett told the Herald. “I believe we can come up with a mutually agreeable contract.”

According to the resolution, “The Resolution of Removal shall become effective three months after adoption by the Township Committee in accordance with…the Agreement dated Dec. 6, 2010.” Mallett’s contract is due to expire Feb. 1.

“We’ve taken steps to make sure that we have an additional meeting before the expiration. It got real complicated,” said the mayor. “We’ve taken steps to fast-track the contract negotiations to make sure we keep a nice, stable environment and not effect administration.”

“This is a mechanism in Mark Mallett’s contract that we really had to exercise if we wanted to get into negotiating a new contract with him,” said Committeeman Tim Donohue. “We want to be clear that this isn’t any judgment on Mark’s past performance. It’s strictly a technicality that we have to go through so we can all sit down and start talking about our options on a new contract for the Administrator.”

A special meeting to discuss Mallett’s contract has been called for Fri., Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. in Township Hall.