COLTS NECK – As the Colts Neck Township Committee neared final selection of his replacement last week, long-time Administrator/Clerk Robert Bowden was contemplating his future while reflecting upon his 25 years on the job.
“The good news is that the town is essentially the same since when I came in,” Bowden said. “That’s what we strive for. The key is to preserve the rural character of the town.”
With a population of 12,300, Colts Neck’s residential “boom” of the 1960s and ‘70s was largely over by the time Bowden became administrator. While the occasional new McMansion gains notoriety, the denizens of Town Hall remain focused on Colts Neck’s beloved rural roots. Bowden said there has been little growth in the past five years in new homes.
Yet, Bowden has seen his share of change. Colts Neck High School was built during his tenure, as was the 288- unit The Grande residential development near Route 18, which helped fulfill the township’s affordable housing quota at the time. Located between the high school and The Grande along Route 537, the township constructed the new Five Points Park about a decade ago, which includes two full-sized regulation soccer fields, two baseball fields, and green space.
“The administrator is like a conductor of a large orchestra,” said current mayor Jim Schatzle, one of 17 mayors Bowden has served during his tenure. “There are many moving pieces, different styles, and sounds. Bob is a master of keeping the ‘band’ sounding great; from his staff, to elected people, to residents.”
Under his purview, Colts Neck has entered into shared service agreements with other government agencies to save taxpayer dollars. “Colts Neck does a good job on shared services, especially with Monmouth County, including central dispatching services for the police department, public works, record management and archives,” Bowden said. “We also work cooperatively with the local Board of Education, including an arrangement whereby the township plows the school lots and gets use of recreational facilities in return.”
Bowden also served the township through natural disasters including Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy, playing a pivotal role in facilitating intergovernmental cooperation.
In 2013, he was recognized by the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly for his post-Sandy efforts in one of the hardest hit areas of the state.
When asked what he will miss most, Bowden said, “Everything. I’ll miss this profession of mine that I still love. It will hit me when I realize I won’t be coming back to work the day after my party.”
A celebration of Bowden’s Colts Neck career is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at Trump National Golf Club.
– By Laura D. Kolnoski
