Kunz resigns B.A. post after two years
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

SOUTH RIVER - The Borough Council bid farewell to Business Administrator Joseph Kunz at what would be his last public meeting Monday.

With Kunz's resignation, borough Police Chief Wesley Bomba will be acting business administrator. If he is unavailable, the responsibility falls to Mayor Robert Szegeti until a permanent replacement is found.

Council President David Sliker told the Sentinel that Kunz served the borough well for the past two years.

"By all means, I wish him all of the best in his new endeavors," Sliker said. "It has been a pleasure working with him."

Kunz resigned to take a job closer to his home in northern New Jersey. He will be the business administrator in North Caldwell, Essex County.

"It is only better for him and his family," Sliker said.

Szegeti wished Kunz good luck.

"We are sorry to see him go," Szegeti said. "He helped us through some projects, and I understand that the commute and the family [responsibilities] added pressure."

Kunz, who was born and raised in Bergen County, has two children with his wife, Angela. His 3-year-old son, Christopher, and 4-year-old daughter, Mary, weighed heavily on his decision, as his commute to South River is an hour each way from his home in Fair Lawn.

"I have children and after an eight-hour day and the commute, I was never seeing them," Kunz said. "This way, I can do something I enjoy doing and be closer to home."

South River was Kunz's first experience as a business administrator. He replaced Michael Jacobs in 2004 after serving Union City as chief financial officer. His original responsibility in South River was to supervise utilities, but he soon achieved status as business administrator.

"It has been good," Kunz said, "I have enjoyed working with the borough. I think we attempted to accomplish a lot in the last couple years."

Kunz described South River's electric utility as an interesting responsibility and one he will miss.

"The memories I will have of South River will be with their electric utility," Kunz said. "It is unique in the state. I knew budgeting, but learning the electric utility was an interesting task."

The remote meter reading project for electric and water utilities will be a significant one for the next business administrator to take on, Kunz said.

"That will be a big undertaking for the town going forward," Kunz said.

Kunz enjoyed serving the public alongside the governing body, he said.

"They are seven unique people trying to do what is best for the borough and its residents," Kunz said. "Each member has a different idea, but all have the town at heart."