Council Hears Update on Police Captain’s Lawsuit; Public Mum

CAPE MAY – A relatively brief and routine City Council meeting May 16 adjourned for a closed session that lasted just over half an hour. The closed session had, as one of its items, an update by Solicitor Frank Corrado on the Robert Sheehan litigation. There was no further word on that item when the public session resumed.
The Sheehan case which roiled council and the city for most of two years has not come up as an issue publically before the new council which was installed after the November 2016 elections.
Sheehan, a veteran of the city’s police department, was promoted to chief of police in March 2014. One year later, just a day short of the ending of his probationary period, the council took the step of removing him as chief and placing him in his previous position as captain. The step was taken by council due to its expressed concern over what was then identified as Sheehan’s role in a misuse of time controversy involving then Lt. Clarence Lear, the current mayor.
What followed was a long period in which Sheehan’s demotion and potential reinstatement were an issue that hung over council deliberations right through the 2016 municipal elections.
During that period Lear opted to retire and threw his hat into the ring for the position of mayor against incumbent Edward Mahaney. One vocal group in the city placed most of the blame for the Sheehan controversy on Mahaney’s actions making it an issue in the campaign.
During the long period of controversy, Sheehan filed a lawsuit against the city over his dismissal as chief, Lear opted to retire, the County Prosecutor took control of aspects of the police department, the city sued the prosecutor, the city initiated disciplinary hearings against Sheehan for a seven-year-old infraction concerning the time period between firearms certifications, a city-paid attorney repeatedly accused Sheehan of second-degree felonies, a city move to open examinations for chief of police to sergeants, and the hiring of one of those sergeants as chief just prior to the end of the previous administration’s tenure.
Throughout almost the entire period of nearly two years, Sheehan was left in charge of the department as its ranking officer.
What makes recounting the highlights of the controversy appropriate is the fact that on May 16 the public heard for the first time in a long time that there are developments in the Sheehan case worth updating council members. In deference to a new administration elected by a large popular majority, requests for information of Sheehan’s status have disappeared from the public comment period at council meetings.
Bond Ordinances
Council adopted three bond ordinances totaling $2.9 million. The ordinances are part of an annual process that sets up funds for the year’s capital development plans.
The general ordinance for the city’s capital projects was for $1.7 million. The largest portion of the total funding is for the annual road improvements allocating $750 to that purpose. Other areas of planned expenditures included buildings and grounds improvements, $411,000, public safety equipment, $230,000, capital equipment, $175,000 and office capital items, $149,000.
Deputy Mayor Shaine Meier assured the public that the capital plan included funds for replacement of the elevator in City Hall.
A water and sewer utility bond ordinance totaled $769,000 with almost all of the funds set aside for water and sewer infrastructure improvements both in the streets and at the water plant. An amount, $30,000, was included for utility equipment needs.
Lastly, the beach utility bond ordinance was for $411,000 with the bulk of it set aside for equipment improvements including the much-needed PA system for the beach area. Improvements to beach building and grounds, including bathrooms, were allocated $100,000.
The meeting also saw the introduction of a new ordinance approving a new payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) plan between the city and Victorian Towers. City Manager Neil Young said that the new plan was at the request of Victorian Towers. The management of Victorian Towers is seeking $7 million in funding for internal improvements and in order to secure the necessary capital, a new PILOT agreement with the city was required.
Young pointed out that the new agreement was for the same annual guaranteed payment to the city of $192,000 and that it set a new 30-year term for the agreement.
PILOT agreements are customary in affordable housing situations, especially where federal funds are part of the original funding. They serve as a guaranteed payment to the municipality instead of annual property taxes.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.