CREST HAVEN – It wasn’t until the Board of County Commissioners Jan. 2 reorganization meeting that Commissioner Will Morey, who was critical of some board actions and decisions last year, learned that some of his duties were being reassigned.
Shortly after that meeting, the Herald asked Morey about apparent changes made to his assignments. Morey, who did not attend the meeting, asked the county for confirmation of what he saw on the agenda. He said he could only tell by reading the agenda and resolutions that there were changes to his assignments.
Morey said that, according to his review, the Health Department was transferred to Commissioner Bobby Barr, the Library Commission to Commissioner Melanie Collette and the Surrogate’s Office to him. He said there might be other, nominal, changes that are not yet clear.
“There was no discussion with me on any of the above so I cannot offer any logical rationale for the changes,” he said.
Morey, according to the resolutions passed by the commissioners Jan. 2, is listed as the director of Human Services & Information Technology. As such, his responsibilities include overseeing the Department of Human Services, Division of Aging & Disability Services, Division of Community & Behavioral Health Services, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Medical Examiner and Surrogate. The county website, as of Monday, Jan. 20, still listed the library as being under Morey’s oversight.
In addition, Morey holds assignments as county liaison to various boards and commissions, including the Crest Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Workforce Development Board, The ARC, Council on Aging, Department of Human Services Advisory Board, Drug and Alcohol Addiction and Drug Care Programs, Human Services Advisory Council, Jersey Cape Diagnostic, Mental Health, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse Board, Professional Health Advisory Committee and Youth Services Commission.
The Herald tried to contact Board of Commissioners Director Leonard Desiderio for an explanation of the changes in assignments but has not yet heard back from him.
Morey last year was critical of the commissioners for giving notice that they were ending their long-running agreement with the Delaware River and Bay Authority over the operation and development of Cape May Airport.
And when he put forward suggestions late last year on how the commissioners could be more transparent and make their meetings more easily accessible to residents he was rebuffed, with Desiderio saying he thought the commission was transparent, and with two other commissioners taking offense about Morey’s statement that he felt the commission was “holding off the residents and taxpayers from getting information.”
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
