Freeholder Thornton, Bakley Start New Terms

CREST HAVEN — County freeholders reorganized Jan. 4 for a new year of county business and Freeholders-elect Gerald Thornton and Ralph Bakley, Sr. were sworn into new three-year terms before a packed house of over 100 in the freeholder meeting room at the County Administration building here.
The United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Detail presented the colors, and Mark Huff, a county employee in the communications office, sang “Star Spangled Banner” after Boy Scouts from Troop 73 and Cubs from Pack 73, West Cape May, led the pledge of allegiance. Huff closed the evening’s business with a rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
An invocation by Pastor Wesley Newell of First Assembly of God Church, Cold Spring, was a prayer for divine guidance for officials.
“Grant them wisdom for every decision they have to make and integrity in everything they do,” said Newell.
Rev. Carrie Williamson of Eureka Baptist Church, Wildwood, gave the Benediction.
The oath of office was administered to Thornton by U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd) with family members looking on, and Bakley’s daughter, Barbara Bakley-Marino, county director of human resources and training, administered his oath of office, with a short question preceding the oath — “Ready?” she asked — and a brief comment after — “You’re in!” — accompanied by laughs and applause.
A total of 17 resolutions were passed, including appointing freeholders and others to various tasks and boards and setting the time and place for meetings, after which each of the five freeholders made comments which included thanking their fellow board members, family members and supporters, and sending good wishes to county residents for a happy new year.
Resolutions included:
Freeholder Daniel Beyel as Director of the Board.
Freeholder Ralph Sheets Vice Director of the Board.
Departments’ designations and areas of responsibility under those departments, and Resolution 4-08 appointed freeholders to various directorships:
Director of administration, revenue & finance and public works is Daniel Beyel, and supervises: administration, communications, county counsel, engineer’s office, human resources and training, management information services, open space/farmland preservation, county parks & zoo, public works, purchasing department, risk management & safety, and treasurer’s office.
Director of public safety is Ralph Sheets, and supervises: county clerk/adjuster, emergency management/communications center, fire marshal’s office, mosquito control, prosecutor’s office, public safety training, Rutgers Extension Service, sheriff’s department/correctional center, telephone exchange, youth services.
Director of health and human services is Gerald Thornton, and supervises Crest Haven Nursing & Rehab Center, department of aging, health department, human services, R.S.V.P., and veteran’s bureau.
Director of tourism, planning and facilities Leonard Desiderio, and supervises animal shelter & adoption center, economic resources & capital planning, facilities and services, Fare Free Transportation, planning department, tourism.
Director of education, library and consumer affairs is Ralph Bakley Sr., and supervises board of elections, consumer affairs/weights and measures, county library, museum, tax board, superintendent of schools, Surrogate’s office.
Regular public meetings of the freeholder board at the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. in the freeholders’ room at the county administration building.
Resolution 8-08 adopted a cash management plan for the county and lists official depositories for county funds, which are: Bank of America; PNC Bank, NJ; Sun Bank, NJ; Commerce Bank; Cape Savings Bank; Crest Savings Bank; Wachovia Bank; Sturdy Savings Bank; MBIA Asset Management (New Jersey CLASS); NJ Arbitrage Rebate Management Program (“NJ/ARM”); State of New Jersey Cash Management Fund; Sovereign Bank; Valley National Bank; and Ocean First Bank.
Resolution 11-08 adopted Beyel and Thornton Insurance Fund Commissioners for a term of two years, or the balance of the freeholder’s term, whichever is less. The commissioners authorize payments not covered by or not exceeding the deductible of a county insurance policy.
Resolution 13-08 adopted Bakley, Desiderio and Beyel as freeholder members of the five-member Board of School Estimate of the Cape May County Special Services School District.
Resolution 15-08 adopted Sheets and Thornton to the Cape May County Board of Social Services for a term of one year.
Resolution 16-08 adopted Sheets as a voting member to the New Jersey Association of Counties, with Desiderio appointed an alternate voting member and county administrator Stephen O’Connor as a second alternate.
Resolution 17-08 adopted Beyel and Desiderio as members of the Cape May Planning Board for a term of one year.
Contact Avedissian at (609) 886-8600 Ext 27 or at: savedissian@cmcherald.com.