The Blogsite of Jewell Real Estate Agency, Wildwood Crest, NJ 609-729-8505
Wildwood's New Mayor
Shortly after new Wildwood commissioners Ed Harshaw and Al Brannen were sworn in Monday night to join sitting commissioner Gary DeMarzo, the three picked the new mayor.
Envelope, please.
And the winner is Gary DeMarzo.
Maybe winner isn't the correct term, considering the tough road ahead. Wildwood is beset by having the highest tax rate in Cape May County, $1.83 per hundred dollars of assessed value. The portion that is directly attributed to Wildwood's budget is $1.11 per hundred, with the balance the county's tax levy.
The first act of the new commission was to name attorney Daniel Gallagher of Atlantic City as interim city solicitor. The current solicitor, Wildwood attorney Marcus Karavan, is still under contract to the city so that will have to be ironed out. This appointment of Gallagher is apparently a pay back for being the attorney representing the recall committee.
They next named former Ocean City business administrator Richard Deaney as interim administrator. The house cleaning continued by voting to solicit bids for a new municipal auditor, which is now covered by Ford, Scott, Seidenburg & Kennedy of Ocean City, and new municipal engineer, which is currently handled by Remington Vernick of Wildwood.
DeMarzo kept on as commissioner of revenue and finance, while Brannen became deputy mayor and head of public safety. Harshaw became commissioner of public works. The trio changed the two monthly commissioner meetings to the evening, instead of one being at 3:30pm.
The easy part is over for the new commission. Collecting petition signatures, campaigning for election, and getting out the voters is in the rear view mirror. Ahead lies the pitfalls of a small, mostly seasonal city with a $26.1 million budget and 225 employees.
And May, 2011, just a brief 18 months away, is the next election. The pressure is on this new trio to reduce spending and cut the tax rate, an unenviable job. They will now be in the crosshairs.
They wanted a shot at running the city. Reminds me of the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for."
- Mountain Man and City Girl
http://www.MountainManandCityGirl.com
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