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Prospect Park District Administrator Intashan Chowdhury
Prospect Park Borough Administrator Intashan Chowdhury, 22, is considered the youngest city administrator in New Jersey and the first of Bengali descent.
Michael Karas, NorthJersey.com
PROSPECT PARK – The borough is separating from its municipal government under an amicable separation that will take effect this fall.
Intashan Chowdhury, who was considered the youngest city manager in New Jersey history when he took the job more than five years ago, will be on paid administrative leave for the next three months, he said, adding that he will receive a lump sum payment to compensate for 24½ days of accrued vacation. His salary is $70,768, according to pension records.
Chowdhury, 27, is a Paterson native and Totowa resident who began his role as administrator in January 2019. He said he is actively seeking a new position in the same role.
“Intashan is grateful for his time with the community,” said his attorney Scott Salmon, and he “looks forward to the next opportunity in his career.”
The council approved a separation agreement with Chowdhury by a 4-2 vote on Monday after a closed-door meeting. Council members Robert Artis and Zack Daghstani dissented.
The exact reason for the amicable separation has not been publicly disclosed, but it appears to be a dispute between Chowdhury and Mayor Mohamed Khairullah.
In recent months, the outgoing administrator has distanced himself from his longtime mentor. Chowdhury did not support Khairullah when the mayor challenged Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., who died on Wednesday, for his congressional seat in the June primary election. He had always been a loyal campaign aide.
Khairullah, who has known Chowdhury since he was his teacher at Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, did not respond to a request for comment about the amicable separation and the now vacant administrator position.
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During his tenure, Chowdhury helped the municipality secure more than $5 million in state and federal grants for initiatives including hiring more police officers and resurfacing a soccer field with artificial turf at Hofstra Park. Last August, he also introduced artificial intelligence to the city’s website by developing a new search function.
In May, Chowdhury was named an influential figure in his field by Engaging Local Government Leaders, an Oregon-based network of public officials. Shortly after that honor, he was named part-time executive director of the Municipal !nnovation Summit, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news in your local community, subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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