Allendale December 11, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 McCarthy to retire; successor Casais in training by John Koster Gwen McCarthy, Allendale’s administrative officer and municipal clerk since 2008, will attend her last meet- ing as a borough official at the end of December. Her replacement, 22-year-old Andrew Casais, is already in on the job, training to take over as the top official in Allen- dale Borough Hall in January. A graduate of Seton Hall, Casais is a council member in his hometown of Roselle Park, where he serves on the Finance Committee and is active in preparing the munici- pal budget. He is also active on Roselle Park’s First Aid and Library committees. McCarthy has received regular praise from the Allen- dale Council for her work in the borough’s administration. She filed her resignation for the purpose of retirement with the State of New Jersey six months ago. She and her husband, former Allendale Police Sergeant Al McCar- thy, are planning an extended trip to Europe. She is also completing her certification as a yoga teacher and will be volunteering as a yoga instructor of older people in the future. Born in Arizona, McCarthy received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English education from Arizona State University, and taught English at Glendale Commu- nity College in Arizona. She moved to New Jersey in 1988, and her experience in local government began in Upper Saddle River, where she served as recycling coordinator and deputy court administrator. Transferring to Allendale, she started her career in the borough as the recording secretary to the planning board and the zoning board of adjustment. She was hired as Allendale’s borough clerk in 1998. She worked under several different borough admin- istrators until, in 2008, the Allendale Borough Council decided to essentially abolish the position of borough administrator and divide the top responsibilities between the borough clerk, who would be responsible for the oper- ations of the interior staff including the tax officers and building inspector; and the supervisor of public works, who would be responsible for the road and public works employees. Despite the objections of borough and town- ship administrators from some other towns, and some Allendale residents, both McCarthy and Public Works Director Keith Cauwenberghs, now retired, were credited by the council and most residents with a seamless transi- tion and an effective operation, especially during adverse weather conditions and last year’s massive road construc- tion in the center of Allendale. McCarthy taught municipal clerk courses through the extension division of Rutgers University for five years from 2005 to 2010. She has four children and three grand- children. Board accepts resignation (continued from page 3) administrator and a certified school financial officer. He also holds a certificate of eligibility for principal and vari- ous teaching certifications. He is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership at the College of Saint Elizabeth. During his two years in Ho-Ho-Kus, Lambe said he and Superintendent Ferrara had worked together on a number of building projects, including the new ventilation system for the gym, a partial roof replacement, stage renovations in the auditorium, and various other building repairs. Lambe is originally from Hasbrouck Heights. He and his wife, Peggy, reside in Cedar Grove. They are the parents of two sons, including a two-year-old and a six- month-old. Before Lambe was hired for the post in Ho-Ho-Kus, David Rinderknecht had been working one day a week as the district’s interim business administrator since Sep- tember 2010. Rinderknecht, who distinguished himself by serving the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District for 17 years, replaced Anthony D’Achille, who had been interim business administrator for the K-8 dis- trict since May 2010. D’Achille took over for James Davis, who left Ho-Ho-Kus to accept the post of business admin- istrator for the Oakland schools. Ferrara said she has recommended an interim business administrator to the school trustees, and she anticipated that the appointment would be announced at the board’s Dec. 17 meeting.