To the Editor:
I am a resident of Cape May County and have followed with interest the articles related to the county commissioners position and comment on the planned discontinuance of the airport lease arrangement between the county and DRBA (Delaware River and Bay Authority). My primary concern is the disregard of a long-standing member of the commission who was appointed by the commission as a primary interface over the past 10 yrs with DRBA related to our airport management and development, Will Morey.
As a member of the Cape May County Issues Committee, I have had frequent reason to interface with Mr. Morey on a variety of county issues. In all cases I have found him available, responsive and open. In situations involving additional resources within county management related to the issue, meetings were coordinated with the appropriate personnel to achieve input and understanding of project objective, roadblocks and progress.
These projects included the county’s effort to assist Cape May County in achieving the status as a Coast Guard Community; economic development, specifically the county’s effort to attract businesses related to drone technology; most significantly the county’s comprehensive bridge replacement program.
Mr. Morey has coordinated regular meetings with a task group of the Issues Committee to discuss plan objectives in detail, financial plan to achieve this significant project requiring up to $1 billion over 10+ years, obstacles and necessary approvals (federal, state and local). Meetings have been ongoing quarterly and semiannually, most recently annually, including key county resources assigned to manage and accomplish these objectives.
This open dialogue concerning the county commissioner’s effort to improve our county and listen to resident input has been an element of confidence-building for me. I am not sure that I understand the recent shift on open dialog by the Board of Commissioners, particularly in their effort to silence a member who has represented our county so openly in the past 10+ years. As a taxpayer and resident interested in county improvement, this shift in unsettling and unwelcomed.
William “Skip” Michael
Cape May Court House
