Court Will Not Consider Strathmere Request

STRATHMERE – A seven-year legal battle involving the future of this small, sleepy, seaside village is over now that the New Jersey Supreme Court opted not to hear an appeal from a citizens’ group that called for the secession of Strathmere from the 65-square-mile Upper Township.
“As predicted a few years ago, our journey to de-annex from a century of mismanagement by the mainland community of Upper Township will head to the New Jersey Supreme Court,” stated Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach on Aug. 2, 2012 after the New Jersey Appellate Court unanimously affirmed the decision of Superior Court Judge Valerie Armstrong’s original ruling in favor of Upper Township.
The battle between Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach and Upper Township began after the group petitioned the township to secede in hope of becoming part of its neighbor to the south, Sea Isle City.
“…It’s clear that permitting Strathmere to depart Upper Township and seek a more perfect union with a compatible beach community is what will benefit all of Upper Township most,” said Ed Tettemer during the Jan. 22, 2009 de-annexation meeting.
According to the organization, residents of the coastal community were paying high taxes and not receiving comparable services as their mainland counterparts.
“We have been cautiously confident along the way that we would have been successful in this,” said Upper Township Mayor Richard Palombo.
“It’s not something I’m pounding my chest about,” noted Palombo of the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the appeal. “It’s more that it’s time to put this behind us and continue to move forward.”
The mayor said keeping Strathmere in place was important for the township as a whole.
“It would have had some significant tax issues for the folks on the mainland, but beyond that, from the social aspect of it it’s always considered that Strathmere has been an essential part of the township,” said Palombo.
“We’re happy it’s over,” said the mayor. “I think the outcome is what we worked hard to get to.”
Palombo attributed the hard work of the township’s attorneys, Daniel Young, Frank Corrado and Dean Marcolongo as a large reason for the successful outcome.
The mayor said throughout the years-long process the township continued to support Strathmere.
“The relationship never really changed on our behalf. We continued to do projects over there. It’s time to put this behind us and move forward and continue a strong relationship.”