Skarzynski named chief of staff at county dept.

Skarzynski named chief of staff at county dept.

Mike Skarzynski

BY TARA PETERSEN

Staff Writer

MILLTOWN — A recent reorganization of Middlesex County’s Department of Corrections has amounted to greater responsibilities and an accompanying salary increase for Mike Skarzynski.

Also a borough councilman in Milltown, Skarzynski was promoted earlier this month from lieutenant to captain and was named chief of staff under Warden Ed Cicchi at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

His salary was increased from $83,403 to $94,764.

Skarzynski estimated that as chief of staff he would have 240 uniformed employees and about 60 civilian staff members reporting to him in his new position.

"I used to do disciplinary hearings and other administrative duties," Skarzynski said. "I’m looking forward to the added responsibilities."

Being second in command also means filling in for the warden.

"When Warden Cicchi is away, I’m in charge during his absence," he said.

According to Cicchi, Skarzynski is in charge of "training, social services and all uniformed staff through their respective shift captains."

Cicchi said last week that he is pleased with the new chain of command.

"It’s a big savings for the county," Cicchi said.

According to officials, Gary Hilton, a former assistant commissioner with the state Department of Corrections, was hired as a consultant to oversee the reorganization.

"He’s considered an expert in the field of corrections," Cicchi said last week of Hilton.

The result was the elimination of the deputy warden position and two lieutenant positions, and a promotion for three lieutenants to captain, including Skarzynski, officials said.

Overall savings, according to officials, is more than $330,000 over the next five years.

Cicchi became warden earlier this year after the former warden, Michael Abode, retired last June amid controversy.

Abode, warden since 1999, was charged with giving former county roads supervisor Alan Haag a phony corrections supervisor badge. Haag was arrested in May on charges of soliciting sex over the Internet with a woman and her preteen daughters. The woman was actually an undercover police agent.

Cicchi had been the deputy warden under Abode.

In Milltown, Skarzynski was elected to his third term on the Borough Council last year. He has served as council president twice and was mayor in 1995, he said.