Peter Valesi Takes the Helm as Freehold Township Administrator

Tuesday’s Freehold Township Committee meeting proved an emotional one as retiring Township Administrator Thomas Antus passed the baton to Deputy Administrator Peter Valesi.

The Township Committee unanimously voted to approve Valesi as the town’s new administrator, effective Saturday, April 2. .

“I always said I would never leave until I was absolutely certain that my staff and the residents of Freehold Township would be in good hands,” Antus said after the vote. Antus then placed Valesi’s new township administrator nameplate on his desk, leaving his chair to hugs and well wishes from the governing body before joining the audience.

Township Attorney Duane Davison worked with Antus for 27 years and recalled a symbiotic relationship in which one would always seem to know the other’s thoughts on an issue in the municipality.

“I’ve worked with a lot of administrators. I would say hands down Tom Antus is the best administrator I’ve worked with,” Davison said. “There will never be another Tom Antus in this town.”

Committeeman Anthony J. Ammiano said he first stepped foot in Antus’ office 14 years ago when he was not yet a member of the governing body and had a concern as a town resident.

“I came in a little on the aggravated side and Tom kept his cool. He was very polite, courteous, businesslike, and has not changed since that day,” Ammiano said. “Little did he know, and little did I know, that I would be sitting on the Township Committee. He’s proven to be a professional for the 11 years that I’ve been sitting up here.”

Mayor David Salkin noted that Valesi would have large shoes to fill but that we had been well trained by Antus.

“We did take this lightly. We began looking for [Antus’] replacement two years ago. We did not look for an assistant administrator, we looked for our next administrator. I am confident after two years of [Antus’] teaching and mentoring and Pete’s own abilities, Freehold will not miss a beat,” Salkin said.

Valesi credited Antus as a force in his career and in his life.

“When I think about what I have to do, I think ‘What would Tom do?’” Valesi said.

Valesi, a Howell resident, was joined in celebrating the career milestone by his wife, Cindy; his seven-year-old daughter, Eva; his four-year-old son, Derrick; coworkers; and township staff. Valesi served as business administrator of Keyport before accepting the deputy township administrator position in Freehold in November 2008.

Valesi will continue at a $163,000 salary through the end of his contract in 2013. Salkin said the township will not be filling the deputy township administrator position because of budget constraints.