Cape May Council Pelted by Public Over Police Matters

CORRECTION: A May 27 story about the May 19 Cape May City Council meeting erroneously reported former mayor Robert Elwell spoke. Speakers were former mayors Jerry Gaffney and Jerome Inderwies Sr. Elwell was absent. Inderwies spoke directly to Councilman Jack Wichterman.
CAPE MAY – When Cape May City Council met May 19 and public comment period opened council found itself back in the controversy surrounding former police chief and now Capt. Robert Sheehan.
With the city’s complaint against Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor scheduled to be heard in Superior Court May 22, there was little reason to expect the controversy to die until the courts had their say. The city is seeking to have the court require Taylor to remove the monitor he placed in the police department.
City Solicitor Anthony Monzo explained to about 40 residents that the other law suit, the Sheehan suit against the city stemming from his demotion from the position, is also still active.
The city has asked for and been granted an extension on its required filing in response to Sheehan’s complaint.
Two former mayors, Jerry Gaffney and Jerome Inderwies Sr., again urged council to reinstate Sheehan as chief of police and settle the controversy.
Inderwies appealed directly to Jack Wichterman, recently appointed to take the place of Jerry Inderwies, who resigned over the Sheehan affair, to “have the guts to have Sheehan reinstated as chief.”
Gaffney argued that the Joint Insurance Fund, which insures the city in disputes of this type, would “love to see this settled.” He proposed that the city reinstate Sheehan immediately and offer to pay all legal fees. “I know what I am talking about and you know that I know what I am talking about,” Gaffney said. He scolded council, saying “You need to take the bull by the horns and get this resolved.” Monzo explained that Sheehan’s suit is a new complication since it asks for more than reinstatement.
The comments were provoked in part by the press release by Taylor stating that his office has completed its investigation into the incident which started the whole controversy: the use of compensatory leave by Lt. Chuck Lear. The city maintains that was against policy and a violation of Lear’s contract with the city.
Council has frequently maintained, especially at the March 24 overflow council meeting at Convention Hall, that members would reconsider their action regarding Sheehan when the investigation was complete and if Sheehan was exonerated.
The prosecutor’s report has not been made public and the council did not share any results of the report at the meeting even though the report was mentioned by several speakers during public comment.
As some comments spilled over into visible anger at council’s immobility on the issue, Mayor Edward Mahaney was also frequently reminded that many in the room support the ongoing effort to have him recalled.
Council member Shaine Meier said he agreed with those who felt Sheehan should be reinstated and at one point during public comment made a motion to that effect that was not seconded.
Council members made almost no responses to the individuals who spoke and silently endured the anger of some and the pleas of others that they act now that Taylor’s investigation is done.
By the time the council meets again, the court will have begun playing its role in the controversy. There was no sign that the council would act prior to that involvement.
The next meeting of the council would normally have been on June 2, but primary elections have forced the date to change to June 1 at 1 p.m.
Other Business
Council adopted three bond ordinances. They total approximately $2.7 million with the large portion, $1.5 million, going for various improvements in and by the city.
Another ordinance was for almost $1 million for the water and Sewer Utility and the remaining $200,000 was for the Beach Utility.
In a move to respond positively to repeated requests for greater transparency in local government, the city put all ordinances and resolutions that were to be considered at the meeting on its website for access by citizens.
The desire for such access in advance of a council vote had been a subject of a great deal of public comment for several months.
When added to the fact that Cape May took the step of having council meeting streamed live with video also posted for later review, the city offers citizens more comprehensive access to council actions than most other municipalities in the county.