Fresh Faces, New Ideas Shape County

CREST HAVEN — Since Gerald Thornton became director of Cape May County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders in January, many changes took place. Some were planned others were not.
It could be said, “This isn’t your father’s freeholder board.” It is different in many ways to give transparency and more accountability from department heads.
Thornton, from his corner office in the William Sturm Administration Building, 4 Moore Road, was interviewed by the Herald Fri., July 13. From that office Thornton oversees one of the county’s largest employers: county government.
It’s only now becoming apparent to him how deeply entrenched some departments and their managers were, that even he, as a freeholder, was unaware of certain things about those offices.
That’s changing along with an attitude of “that’s the way it was always done.”
He instituted a number of changes designed to keep all four other members of the governing body attuned with what is happening, not only with their departments, but with all others.
“Communications have made a difference with the board,” said Thornton, attired in a short-sleeved shirt with county identification card around his neck, sitting behind a paper-covered desk.
One of the most visible changes came early in January when the first 90-minute caucus meeting was held prior to a regular freeholder meeting. Such things never took place prior to that, unless a special presentation was to be made or the like, but never on a continual basis.
“I think the 90-minute caucus is really significant,” said Thornton. New board peers, Will Morey and Kristine Gabor freely participate along with board veterans Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard and Leonard Desiderio.
Thornton believes those pre-meeting sessions with Purchasing Agent Kim Allen as well as reviews from County Engineer Dale Foster and Director of Operations Edmund Grant are key to letting the entire board know what is transpiring.
“We all have knowledge of the projects,” said Thornton.
Allen explains purchases on the upcoming agenda, the reason why some contract was awarded over another, and methodology of purchasing certain items.
Grant brings a veritable encyclopedia of ongoing projects with brief explanations how they will affect employees, programs and departments.
Thornton realizes how “in the dark” he had been kept over the years without such a process in place.
“Now, everything is explained to the board. If there is a problem, it can be corrected or pulled from the agenda,” Thornton said.
While he had anticipated the retirement of Deputy Administrator Roxanne Catarcio, who told him over a year ago of her decision,the resignation of Administrator Stephen O’Connor was unanticipated, and something that drew Thornton into the office for 12 hours or longer days.
Grant, too, had previously informed him of his retirement as chief financial officer. However, after O’Connor’s unanticipated departure to South Jersey Economic Development District, Thornton called Grant from retirement, and offered him the administrator’s post. A decision was made that he’d return, but as director of operations (“DOO” as Thornton likes to call Grant).
Another senior retirement came as Margaret “Maggie” Gannon, Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, retired.
Most recently, Martin Pagliughi, Avalon mayor, was tapped by the board to be coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management. He will replace Francis “Frank” McCall, who will move to Public Works and assume the vacant post left upon Road Supervisor Joseph Versaggi’s retirement.
While many of the retirees had ample amounts of service behind them, one of the factors to be considered, said Thornton, especially for higher-salaried workers, was the hefty portion they would pay for their health benefits, some $7,000 to $9,000 annually for those benefits.
Every county employee will eventually feel the bite of health insurance from their paychecks. The first to feel it earlier this year were management and administrative personnel.
Having lived through a major part of senior staff departing, Thornton realized there was a need to train middle management employees to step into senior positions when they become vacant. Such a training program will ensure a ready supply of employees ready to “step up rather than us having to go outside unless we have to,” Thornton said.
Asked whether any changes are pending in Emergency Management under Pagliughi, Thornton replied, “Wait ‘til he gets in there, and gets his feet on the ground and see what’s going on,” said Thornton. “Usually people come in with new ideas.”
“That’s one thing I’ve learned. Government is changing all the time. Government is fluid, it changes day to day. The problems we deal with today were not dealt with years ago. It is a more difficult time now for government.
Part of the change, Thornton said, comes from a reduction in funding.
“We have to try to create the best efficiencies possible to maintain the level of service for people at risk, and we have done well so far,” he said. The county’s “AA1” bond rating is a thing of pride for Thornton. It proves that his predecessor Daniel Beyel’s administration’s financial acumen is aiding taxpayers today.
It was that pre-planning two and a half to three year ago that “placed us in the present financial position, probably the best condition of any county in the state,” he said.
“We have a tax rate that is the lowest in New Jersey and a bond rating that is among the highest,” he added.
The Social Services system is experiencing a “larger burden…because of the high rate of unemployment. People are coming into the system adding to both welfare rolls and food stamp recipients (known as SNAP).
“Those numbers are up 20 percent. That goes with the economy,” said Thornton.
He took that mention as a cue to explain that, unless a job is lost through attrition, a layoff of one person means the loss of “half a job in the community. For every two jobs lost when you lay off a person, you lose three jobs in the community,” he said.
If a person is laid off, and not retiring through attrition or into another job, they will go onto the Social Service system. Then, the county pays a third, the rest is financed by the state and federal government. The cost taxpayers is a third.
Some other points on Thornton’s radar screen:
• Revenue projection: According to an unofficial report from County Clerk Rita Fulginiti, Realty Transfer fees, which fund a great portion of the county budget, “are starting to pick up.” Thornton does not believe former numbers will return for between three and five years, if at all. “The economic recovery is still three or four years” in the making.
• Construction costs are down. It’s one reason the county decided the time was right to secure a $34-million bond. The interest rates will be low, and two past bonds will be paid off.
Thornton noted that, because the county will secure the $34 million in bonds, that doesn’t mean all the money will be immediately spent. That may take a number of years, but when it is needed, the money will be ready at the present low rate of interest.
• Telephone operations: All county telephone calls will be handled through the switchboard at Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The center has staff that will handle the calls.
While Thornton doesn’t particularly like the prospect, there will be an automated voice on the county’s phones in the future after a $500,000 upgrade is made sometime this year.
• Central Dispatch for emergency services, long a sore point of discussion throughout the county, will still be under McCall, who will remain 9-1-1 coordinator. The county received a $103,000 grant to pursue the idea.
Thornton believes fire and rescue are “very interested” while some police departments are hesitant, others say it might be worthwhile.” Thornton believes as agencies are burdened with more work and limited funding, the appeal of central dispatch may grow.
He also acknowledges “turf is a problem.” He said, if ever the time was right, it is now, since Homeland Security funding is available and radio frequencies are being limited by the federal government.
• Construction projects: The $17.5-million upgrade of the county Correctional Center is “the biggest construction project we have going right now.” Next is the Wildwood Crest library renovation and the Stone Harbor branch of the County Library.
Thornton said the county “made sure” local carpenters were used on the Sea Isle City branch library to benefit from the work.
“We try to do that,” he said, in order that county projects benefit as many local people as possible.
• Fare Free Transportation: Grant and Deputy Administrator Elizabeth Bozzelli and officials from that department have had meetings to “review a number of things there, route structures and efficiencies.
• Airport: Freeholder Will Morey has undertaken the job of working with Delaware River Bay Authority, which operates the facility, in order to learn what can be done to bolster the local economy.
The county hired Triad Associates in an effort to secure grants to aid the economic projects.
• Monthly Budget Checks: Every department head and freeholder gets a budget sheet showing how much has been spent in relation to what was budgeted. When Thornton was director in the mid 1980s, he did likewise.
“I think it’s a very good tool for the freeholders,” he said. If they see a department is nearing its budget a call might be made to the person in charge of that department.
• Bridge Commission: Although the county has undertaken the debt of the commission, it does not get the tolls. Thornton said, if the county did not collect tolls, it would have to pay all the labor costs, which tolls now pay.
“The biggest problem with (Ocean Drive) bridges (with exception of Ocean City-Longport) is that all were built in the 1930s.
They are beginning to deteriorate. They are very difficult to maintain. That’s why we picked up the bonded indebtedness.
Bridges are important, and the tolls pay for some maintenance as well as salaries and wages,” said Thornton.
Finally, it is possible that Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard may depart the board, if her bid for surrogate is successful in the November election. Who might be in the race to replace her?
“Even I don’t know that,” said Thornton. “I have been asked, but truly, that decision is up to the (Republican) committee people.”
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com