Gregory Poff is getting a four-year contact and a $180,000 starting salary
ROCKAWAY TWP. -- The township's longtime business administrator is leaving to become the chief administrator of Sussex County.
The county freeholder board is set to approve Wednesday night a four-year contract for Gregory Poff starting at $180,000 annually.
Poff has been business administrator in Rockaway Township for nearly a decade.
He received a $153,047 salary in 2016, according to public records.
Mayor Michael Dachisen said he was notified Monday night of Poff's impending exit.
"He's an outstanding guy. I can't fault him for moving up the ladder," Dachisen said.
Poff did not immediately return a phone call.
Sussex County Freeholder Director Carl Lazzaro told NJ Advance Media that Poff is starting in mid-April.
Poff will be Sussex County's fourth chief administrator in less than two years.
He is succeeding Ron Tappan, a county department head serving as acting administrator since the April 2016 retirement of Stephen Gruchacz.
Gruchacz retired nine months into a three-year contract. He replaced former Administrator John Eskilson, who retired in July 2015 after 11 years in the post.
Lazzaro said Tappan will remain in his role as administrator of the county's Central and Shared Services department.
Dachisen said Rockaway Township likely will use a consultant to help find Poff's successor.
He said Poff would have marked his 10th year on the job in October.
"He's going to be a hard man to replace. I'm going to miss him dearly," Dachisen said.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.