Borough Seeks New Administrator, Interviews Hopefuls in Closed Session

WILDWOOD CREST – After a 15-minute meeting of the Wildwood Crest Borough Commission Aug. 10, commissioners voted to enter closed session to conduct interviews for a new borough administrator. 
In 2013, Kevin Yecco retired as administrator after 27 years with the borough. A search was conducted, and the commissioners appointed Thomas Henshaw as administrator just before the start of the 2014 summer season. His appointment was for three years, running through May 31, 2017. Henshaw did not last anywhere near that long.
Henshaw, who had experience in several Atlantic County municipalities, was out as Crest administrator within four months.
The borough had taken most of a year to agree on Henshaw as the new administrator. There was no public comment on why Henshaw’s term ended so quickly.
In July 2015, several months after Henshaw’s departure, the borough announced a relationship with Edmund Grant, a retired Cape May County executive, and former Wildwood mayor, to serve as administrator.
Grant’s retirement status with the county led to his being retained by the borough through a professional services contract.
The borough appears ready to hire a permanent administrator. The interviews of candidates were scheduled to begin following the end of the public portion of the commission meeting.
Branding
The commission passed a resolution hiring a legal firm as “legal counsel for branding property rights.”
The not-to-exceed $10,000 award will allow the firm to conduct what Commissioner Don Cabrera explained was a legal review of the new logo and associated brand elements.
The borough has been engaged in a branding effort to help it distinguish itself from neighboring resorts, especially Wildwood. The borough’s new slogan “It’s better in the Crest,” drives an integrated set of elements that make up the Crest brand effort.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.