Mayor & Council Appoint New Township Manager
Published on February 25, 2025
Montclair Township Mayor and Council Appoint New Township Manager
Montclair, NJ, February 25, 2025—Mayor Renee Baskerville and the Township Council have appointed Mr. Stephen Marks, PP, AICP, the new Township Manager. The Township conducted an extensive search to fill the position currently held by Interim Township Manager Michael Lapolla, Esq. Mr. Marks will officially assume his duties on April 1, 2025.
The Township Council reviewed 34 resumes. Nine semi-finalists were interviewed, followed by three finalists, each having a second, in-depth personal interview.
Mayor Baskerville said, “Today is an exciting day for Montclair as we announce the appointment of Mr. Marks as our new Township Manager. He brings a proven track record in executive management and municipal government, with strong ties to Montclair. It was important for us to select a candidate who understands our township's character and the values of our community. I want to thank Mr. Lapolla for his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and for extending his time as interim manager. Mr. Marks is the right person for Montclair, and I look forward to working with him on behalf of all our residents.”
Deputy Mayor Shin-Andersen said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Mr. Marks as our new Township Manager following a rigorous recruitment process that included several highly qualified candidates. As a newly elected Council, we embraced the challenge of finding a permanent manager well-suited for Montclair. Mr. Marks is a highly accomplished leader uniquely positioned to take on the challenges of this role. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Lapolla for his service as interim manager; his knowledge base, dedication, and expertise in management provided the Council with the necessary time to recruit the ideal candidate.”
Mr. Marks started his municipal career as the assistant administrator in the City of Hoboken in 2012; he was promoted to administrator in 2016. He then took the position of administrator for the Town of Kearny in 2020. Prior to his work in municipal government, Mr. Marks was Hudson County Planning Director from 2004-2012.
Mr. Marks said, “I would like to thank the Mayor and Council for giving me the opportunity to serve as Montclair’s next township manager. Montclair is a great community, and I look forward to working with the governing body, our senior management team, employees, and our volunteers to make it an even better place to live, work and visit.”
Mr. Marks earned his Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University and his Bachelor of Arts in political science from The College of New Jersey. He is a licensed professional planner in New Jersey, certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. He holds professional accreditations from the United States Green Building Council and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. In 2023, Ms. Marks received the prestigious “Budd Chavoosian Outstanding Professional Planner Award” from the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association.
Mr. Marks has roots in Montclair, which his great-grandparents and parents called home. He and his wife, Rosemary, of 32 years, enjoy visiting Montclair’s great public spaces and restaurants.
The Township of Montclair was supported in the search process by Thomas Czerniecki, President of Jersey Professional Management, a municipal management consulting firm with over 30 years of experience assisting local governments with various organizational development needs.
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Press/Media Contact
Matt Amaral
Communications Director, Township of Montclair
mamaral@montclairnjusa.org
(973)-509-4908