Bond Issue Resolved, ‘Great Weight’ Lifted

WEST WILDWOOD – A short, routine meeting of West Wildwood Borough Commissioners produced a crowd out of proportion to the business of the agenda. As soon as agenda items had been dispensed with, the discussion turned to an issue that had roiled in the small community for over a year. Just days before the meeting, the Election Day results in the borough had resolved a significant dispute and, as Mayor Christopher Fox expressed it, “taken a great weight from the shoulders of the commissioners.” Fox took time to thank citizens for their support in the election and, during the public comment portion, the commissioners, including Fox, Scott Golden, and Cornelius Maxwell, received thanks and applause of those present.
In a borough that is among the smallest in the state, a battle had been raging concerning a bond ordinance that allowed the borough to borrow $470,250.
A petition, signed by 62 residents including a former mayor, Herbert Frederick, and former commissioner, Gerald McNamara, sought repeal of the ordinance. The initial petition was rejected by Borough Clerk Donna Frederick, and by the time corrections were made and the petition resubmitted, the borough claimed the 20-day filing deadline for petitions had passed.
As the borough executed the bond and borrowed the money, the petitioners went to court with their grievances. To add to the drama, the borough, which won in the initial court ruling, moved ahead and acquired and took delivery on equipment funded by the bond money. The borough was preparing to continue with infrastructure improvements when the appellate court ruled in favor of the petitioners and instructed the commissioners to place the matter before the voters.
The Nov. 4 ballot in West Wildwood contained the question on the bond ordinance. Those opposing the plan claimed it would lead to a significant tax increase in the borough. The commissioners responded with a detailed list of the equipment and improvements that depended on the bond funds. A series of town hall meetings were held to education the public on how the funds would be used.
In the end two thirds of the registered voters in the borough turned out for an election that had no other ballot items except a single unopposed candidate for the school board. Approval of the bond ordinance question carried 56 percent of the vote, which represents a significant win in a community were contested elections are often decided by very narrow margins.
The commissions had already repaid the bond funds based on the court decision and placed equipment the borough had acquired under commercial leases. Now they were free once again to access the bond funds and terminate the more expensive private leases. The relief was apparent when commissioners thanked the citizens.
Fox also announced that the December regular meeting would depart from the usual Friday schedule. The meeting will be held Dec. 4.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.