If you thought you had bid goodbye to Fair Haven Parks and Recreation Director Charlie Hoffmann, think again. It was more like a “see you later.”

When he announced his resignation just over a month ago, it was taken with deep regret.

“We were all very sorry to see Charlie go, but wished him well in his new job,” Administrator Theresa Casagrande told an audience of mostly students who know Hoffmann at Monday’s Borough Council meeting at Knollwood School.

However, Casagrande added, after the governing body figured out a way to not have to let go of Hoffmann just yet, he’s being welcomed back in the same job, but in a part-time capacity with an assistant.

Having been on the job for four years, Hoffmann said he had accepted a position in a completely different field, but would remain forever fond of Fair Haven and the work he had done there.  His goodbye was a premature one.

“I am very pleased to report that the mayor and council recently approved a realignment of the Recreation Department, which included Charlie Hoffmann remaining as the borough’s recreation director in a part-time capacity for at least the next few months,” Cassagrande said. “They also approved the hiring of a part- time assistant to Charlie. Her name is Miss Fran Stefanelli … You’ll be seeing her around at a lot of the activities now.”

Casagrande explained further that Hoffmann, who did not change plans to accept another full-time job, will work evenings and weekends in Fair Haven and will be available to people then.

She added that the borough is still looking into possibly sharing recreation services with Rumson in the future and that, regardless of the direction taken, “Charlie Hoffmann will remain somehow associated with the borough of Fair Haven in years to come.”