WILDWOOD CREST – The new year will include at least one change in the borough, as Administrator Connie Mahon has confirmed she will be retiring effective Jan. 1.

“It’s time,” she said.

Mahon has spent at least 25 years in municipal government, starting as a water/sewer clerk in Cape May Point and eventually becoming the clerk/administrator there. After 13 years in the Point, she was hired by Middle Township in 2013 as business administrator, where she remained until she was hired by Wildwood Crest as the borough administrator in 2016.

Mahon said she has decided to retire and spend time traveling with her husband, Mike, who has also retired.

“I just want to enjoy retirement with my husband and enjoy life after working for a long time,” she said.

“Mike and I would like to do a lot of traveling and enjoy each other’s company. We will stay here and keep roots here, but we would like to travel – to see the U.S., especially.”

Mahon said her greatest accomplishments were not necessarily large capital projects, but what she felt was her relationship with borough employees and residents.

“Yes, I had some passion projects, the biggest being the splash pad playground for kids,” she said. “Things like that can be very challenging but very rewarding. It’s entertainment for families that is free.”

Mahon also said the Crest Pavilion, which was a renovation of the former library building, turned out to be a great success despite some opposition.

“However, I liked working with the taxpayers,” she said. “It’s tough to balance between the employees’ wants and needs and taxpayers’ wants and needs, but it was something I enjoyed working to accomplish.”

Mahon said she was proud of the fact that she always maintained an open-door policy for employees, taxpayers and everyone else.

She said although she looks forward to retirement, she is sure she will miss her job, and especially the people she worked with.

“The (employees) here care about their community,” she said.

Mahon said she worked for many great people. She had praise for current Mayor Don Cabrera, who she said was very professional, adding that he “has been nothing short of fabulous to work for.” She said the town has seen many wonderful things take place during his tenure as mayor.

Cabrera said Mahon was the best administrator he has seen in any municipality.

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