Departing City Council Cited for Work

CAPE MAY – The City Council meeting Dec. 16 marked the last appearance for two council members who did not seek reelection. William Murray and Jack Wichterman are both stepping down from council.
Council member Deanna Fiocca already resigned her seat earlier in the year when she moved out of the city. In January, three newly-elected individuals will fill that trio of seats presenting the possibility of policy shifts since they will represent a new potential majority on the five-member board. The three new members are Jerome Inderwies Jr., Beatrice Pessagno, and Shaine Meier.
Both Murray and Wichterman used the opportunity to say goodbye and to wish the three new members well next year. Wichterman noted, “It is time for some new blood.” Mayor Edward Mahaney praised the work of both individuals and spoke of their dedication to the city.
As Mahaney spoke, he cited what he considered the major accomplishments of the outgoing council. He placed great emphasis on the challenge faced by this council as it confronted the impact on tourism from one of the greatest recessions in our recent history.
“Sustaining a stable financial basis for the city through the recession” was a major accomplishment. With the help of the members of council, “We were able to sustain services” and gradually “build back the base” for our tourism industry.
Mahaney went on to note other challenges faced by council and spoke with pride about the way they were met. He cited the building of the new Convention Hall, which is beginning to have the impact on the city that council anticipated.
Mahaney thanked Wichterman specifically for his leadership in another of the major issues faced by this council, the Lower Cape May Regional school funding controversy. “Jack did not engage in personalities and attacks,” Mahaney said. “He stuck to the issues and presented them fairly and professionally.”
An often-overlooked accomplishment also came in for comment by the mayor. He noted that council works diligently to get the city’s bond rating raised, making it easier and cheaper for the city to respond to concerns that required capital raised from bonds.
While he was not yet delivering his upcoming State of the City address, Mahaney was clearly putting on display what he considered some of the signature accomplishments of a council that often provided unanimous votes for its initiatives. Both Wichterman and Murray were very active members of council.
Mahaney thanked all involved in the successful FEMA event at Convention Hall Dec. 12. The open house, hosted by the city for county residents, afforded an opportunity for property owners to get questions answered concerning the new flood maps and the flood insurance program.
Attendance was early and heavy but the lines were handled efficiently. According the FEMA representatives at the event, this was the “best such open house” they had experienced in “eight years,” Mahaney said.
School Funding Issue
Wichterman offered a special thank you to the voters of the city for supporting council’s consistent position on the LCMR school funding issue. He noted that in two different elections, only weeks apart, city voters had given a 70 percent majority to the policy direction pursued by the current council.
Wichterman has led the fight to change the formula and gain greater representation on the school board, but he has enjoyed unanimous votes on the council when actions were required.
Looking straight at the three newly-elected members of council who will take their place in January, Wichterman reminded them that throughout the campaign for council, each of them had said they would be guided by the wishes of the voters.
For Wichterman, the large majorities for the change in the formula was a clear expression of those wishes. This is the one issue that gives Wichterman some pause as he steps down. He said he wished he could have seen it through.
Throughout the last two years, council has been clearing hurdles so the issue could be taken to court where council members have always felt it had the best chance at a resolution.
As Wichterman reminded the new council members of their campaign statements, one got the strong sense that he was not completely passing the baton.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.