Former Galloway Republican League Treasurer Christian R. Johansen Hired as New Township Controller

Galloway Township hired a new Controller on July 8, 2013 with a yearly salary of $79,000. Christian R. Johansen, who is the former Chief Financial Officer for the City of Brigantine is now the Township's newest employee. Johansen also previously served as the treasurer for Republican Councilman Tom Bassford in his re-election campaign from 2009 - 2011. 


According to Johansen's personnel action form, he is replacing the former controller who earned a salary of $82,000. Johansen will make $3,000 less. The former controller Al Stanley was also the Tax Collector. Galloway has been utilizing Egg Harbor Township's Tax Collector Sharon Riley to fill the void of that position since Stanley resigned in 2012. Riley still is working part-time for Galloway Township as the Tax Collector. 

Johansen was employed with the City of Brigantine from 2004 to 2013, resigning on June 21, 2013. Johansen resigned from Brigantine while earning a yearly salary of $79,850. Johansen is not only Certified to be a CFO but he is also a Certified Public Accountant. Galloway Township's Current CFO Marilyn Dolcy also possess both CFO and CPA Licenses. 

On July 10, 2012, according to Township Council Meeting Minutes, Councilman Jim McElwee, who was not on Council at the time, ask the Township Manager to save money by looking at other options before hiring a replacement Tax Collector at such a high salary. Liston replied as recorded in the minutes, "One person that we have is deputy and does not want to assume the position and the other person is a the CFO. In light of the budget we could save, not the entire salary but some portion of it possibly."

According to the Job Description for Controller, it is a requirement for the Controller that they must pursue the Tax Collector Certification from the State of New Jersey. Johansen's salary without the certification is already comparable to Stanley's old salary as he served as Tax Collector and Controller in a duel capacity.

The Township's previous union contract, IBEW Local 210 Supervisors Unit, of which this position was part of, the Category starting salary is listed as $60,000 for Tax Collector / Comptroller. Johansen is coming in $19,000 above the starting salary without the Tax Collector certification. The Township has switched to a new union under Government Workers Union. 

Johansen was also a member of the Galloway Township Republican League, and according to former GTRL members, Johansen also served as the Club's Treasurer. According to New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, Johansen also served as Treasurer for the Re-Election Campaign of Councilman Thomas Bassford in 2009 - 2011. Bassford was re-elected along side Dennis Kleiner, Mayor Don Purdy and Whitney Ullman.

Johansen was a personnel hiring by Township Manager Arch Liston and not an appointed hiring by the Governing Body. If Johansen obtains the certification as a Tax collector and Council wishes to appoint Johansen, pursuant to NJ State Law, a vote by the Governing Body must be made. 


Johansen 1 by GallowayTwpNews

LT PAF Johansen by GallowayTwpNews

LT Johansen Resume by GallowayTwpNews

LT Controller Job Description by GallowayTwpNews

Township Manager Arch Liston Hires Another Assistant for Manager's Office

Cheryl Prakash was hired on May 20, 2013 to be an Executive Assistant in the Manager's Office. Prakash will earn a salary of $31,000 according to documents released through an Open Public Records request. Township Manager Arch Liston signed the Personnel Action form and did not list an Explanation of Personnel.

Prakash served in the Clerks Office at the Town of Hammonton as a Clerk Typist since 2002. She also served in the capacity of Deputy Registrar handling Vital Records. 

Township Manager Arch Liston previously hired Private Investigator Jim Brennenstuhl in February 2013 to serve as Special Assistant to the Township Manager. Prakash joins Diane Grams who already serves as the Manager's Executive Assistant. 

We requested comment from Liston on whether Prakash was hired for the anticipated retirement of Grams. Liston did not return our request for comment. 

Personnel Action Form, Letter of Interest, Resume and Job Description for Prakash have been released below.

Executive Assistant by GallowayTwpNews

LT Prakash Resume by GallowayTwpNews

LT Job Description by GallowayTwpNews

UPDATED: Coming Up: Galloway Employees Receive Promotions and Raises in First Year of a Stabilized Budget

UPDATED: GallowayTwpNews.com apologizes for the delay in the release of this story. Other stories have been developing which diverted attention from this one, however this story is anticipated to be released by the end of the week. Please check back for details.

GallowayTwpNews.com has obtained through an Open Public Records Requests, Personnel Action Forms executed by Township Manager Arch Liston. Included in those forms are Raises and Promotions that were handed out to only a select few in the Public Works Department.

A Public Works employee who provided information on the grounds of anonymity indicated Local 676 was still negotiating their Union Contract with the Township. Their contract expired in December 2012. The employees requested a 2% raise for the next 3 years, however according to the employee, the Township did not want to offer any raises this year to those employees.

We will be providing further details and releasing the Personnel Actions forms in an upcoming story. Check back for details.