Commissioners cite rude treatment by authority chairman

COURT HOUSE – The director of the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners has ordered a search for a new operator for the Cape May County Airport, after commission members expressed outrage over what they say was rude treatment of county representatives by the Delaware River and Bay Authority Commission.

Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio, speaking at the July 23 commissioners meeting, said county representatives attended the DRBA commissioners meeting on July 16 in New Castle, Delaware. Desiderio was accompanied by Commissioner Robert Barr, County Administrator Kevin Lare and County Counsel Jeff Lindsay.

Desiderio said the purpose of the trip was to address the DRBA in a public meeting and express the county’s desire to renegotiate the terms of its contract with the DRBA, which now operates the airport and leases the 1,000-acre property for $1 per year.

The 30-year lease requires the county to give 60 months’ notice of intention not to renew the lease for another 30 years. The commissioners held an emergency meeting on June 6 to pass a resolution announcing the nonrenewal of the lease.

However, according to Desiderio and Barr, the county officials were rebuffed and treated badly at the July 16 DRBA meeting.

“I was amazed that, without exception, how unreceptive the (DRBA) board was,” Desiderio said.

Barr said he was floored by the treatment of the DRBA commission and its chairman, Samuel Lathem.

“The uncouthness by the chairman … how he treated us,” Barr said. “He treated us so poorly.”

Lindsay posted a picture of the four Cape May County representatives at the DRBA headquarters in New Castle, adding the comment, “Road trip to New Castle … wish I could say we received a warm welcome!”

Barr said he wouldn’t treat his worst enemy the way the county officials were treated in New Castle. He said it was time for the county to look for better partners, and he wants to investigate better opportunities for residents and for more economic activity at the airport.

James E. Salmon, DRBA public information officer, said in reply to a request for comment on the Cape May County commissioners’ characterization of their treatment and of the DRBA chairman:

“Cape May County officials showed up unannounced to the Delaware River and Bay Authority’s monthly board meeting on July 16. They were given the opportunity to address the commissioners, at which time they requested that the board delay its consideration of a ground lease agreement for a sports complex to be located at the Cape May Airport. After careful consideration and discussion, the board elected to pass the resolution in a 10-1 vote.

“The sports complex is a privately funded venture that has been years in the making. No DRBA resources are committed to the project. The DRBA Board of Commissioners believes the project is in the best interest of the airport, the residents of the county, and that the development continue its progress forward.

“The Cape May Airport lease between the authority and the county was not a subject of discussion or dispute. On June 7, the county notified the authority of its nonrenewal of the lease agreement, and the DRBA acknowledges and respects its decision to take back sponsorship and control of the airport.”

Desiderio questioned why the DRBA commissioners went ahead and voted on the lease for the Aviation Sports Complex, which requires the developer to rent space at the airport. He said the proposed complex had inexplicably grown from 80,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet and claimed none of the 12 DRBA commissioners – six from Delaware and six from New Jersey – had knowledge of the sports complex’s lease being prepared.

“Eleven commissioners voted to approve the lease despite the lease not being prepared, yet,” Desiderio said, giving a different number of yes votes than Salmon provided. He said the only commissioner who voted against the lease was Heather Baldini, from Sea Isle City.

Desiderio said the vote and the demeanor of the DRBA commission were clear indications that the authority did not want to partner with Cape May County.

The DRBA has been operating the airport for 25 years of the 30-year lease. On May 7, the county reached out to the DRBA and said it wished to regain more control of the airport property, while allowing the DRBA to continue operating the airport.

The DRBA responded on May 9 that it had no interest in being the airport’s operator. On June 6, the county announced its intention not to automatically renew the lease for another 30 years when it expires in 2029. A new airport operator could take over at that time.

After the June 6 meeting, Salmon said the authority would expect to reclaim in the neighborhood of $30 million for improvements it made to the airport, with the precise amount a matter of negotiation.

Both sides expressed willingness to work together to make any transition easier. But after the July 23 county commission meeting, that attitude appears to have changed.

Desiderio said “the door is still open” to partner with the DRBA, but added, “I don’t see that happening.”

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.