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Robert Merlo retired after 37 years with the Town of Phillipsburg as a finance department employee, rising from an accounting associate to chief financial officer during his tenure.
Town employees and longtime friends surprised the 61-year-old Merlo with a retirement party on Dec. 5, and town officials presented him with a proclamation at a meeting at the Phillipsburg Senior Center two weeks later. Merlo accepted the proclamation without delivering remarks on Dec. 17.
Merlo’s final day will be Dec. 31.
The town’s Assistant Municipal Treasurer Shannon Quick is expected to adopt Merlo’s responsibilities, and already has secured her CFO licensure, according to Merlo.
“I’m leaving the town in really good hands,” he said.
During his career, Merlo oversaw the town’s multi-million dollar budget and warned the public about potential financial pitfalls and budget shortfalls. Every department must come in contact with Merlo, and so he’s had the opportunity to learn a little about a lot over the years, he said.
Council Vice President Lee Clark acknowledged the challenge of replacing Merlo.
“You’re leaving behind some big shoes to fill,” Clark said.
“Thank you so much for keeping us afloat all of these years,” Councilman Ed Saultz told Merlo at the meeting. “Go out and do all of the things you wanted to do but never had the time to do before.”
His first mayor was Gloria Decker. His last mayor will be Randy Piazza Jr.
“I enjoyed working with each one,” Merlo said.
Merlo was appointed by former Mayor Harry Wyant 13 years ago to become chief financial officer, after the unexpected death of his predecessor Joseph Hriczak, in 2012. That year, the town’s municipal clerk Michele Broubalow, 37, also died.
“We lost a lot of institutional knowledge that year,” Merlo recalled.
Merlo said he’s sacrificed a lot of nights, weekends and holidays maintaining the town’s fiscal record. He looks forward to spending more time with his wife and two dogs, “making up for lost time.”