Richard Pucci, the only executive director the Middlesex County Improvement Authority has ever had, will retire effective Jan. 1, 2016, the authority announced Tuesday.
MONROE -- Richard Pucci, the only executive director the Middlesex County Improvement Authority has ever had, will retire effective Jan. 1, 2016, the authority announced Tuesday.
Pucci, 68, began as executive director in 1991 the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders created the authority (MCIA).
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He did not give any reason for his decision to retire now, but in March, when he decided not to run for another term as mayor of Monroe Township--a position he held for 28 years--he attributed that decision to his health issues, especially recovery from several back surgeries.
"I want to personally thank the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the MCIA Board members for the confidence they have shown in allowing me to serve as their executive director for 25 years," Pucci said in the statement announcing his retirement. "Although it is difficult to leave, I know the time has come to retire."
Leonard Roseman, chairman of the MCIA board, said, "Rich Pucci has always exemplified quality leadership as executive director and his professional expertise will be sorely missed."
Roseman said the board would move forward with the transition, but the authority did not announce a successor.
Kevin McCabe, chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, congratulated Pucci on his retirement and "on his long, extraordinarily productive career in public service, in particular as executive director of the improvement authority."
"He has truly been an advocate for economic development and insuring deliverance of services than benefit all residents of Middlesex County," McCabe said.
With Pucci's retirement from the MCIA, one of the most influential members of the Middlesex County Democratic party steps off the stage.
He was considered for years as a candidate to run the county organization, one of the most powerful county political parties in the state.
But, he ran into the glare of harsh politics in 2012 when a report by the state comptroller revealed that Pucci and three others received several hundred thousand dollars in "incentive bonuses" through his role at the improvement authority.
The comptroller's report said the bonuses were not allowed in any contracts or personnel documents.
The report led Gov. Christie to call Pucci "disgraceful" and called him part of the "boss system" in Middlesex County.
Pucci criticized the report but noted that after two years of auditing the office it found no problems with its financing practices.
"Their job is the 'gotcha' game and our job is providing programs," Pucci said at the time.
The MCIA is responsible for supervising two 180-bed nursing homes, four 18-hole golf courses, the county-wide curbside recycling program, Open Space purchases, economic development projects and the county's MCFOODS distribution program.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
