Thursday, January 2, 2025

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League Revamps Bylaws, Meeting Day, What Night Should (Can) We Meet?

By Al Campbell

CAPE MAY – To every set of bylaws there is a time of revision. Such revision finally touched the Cape May County League of Municipalities March 22.
Under the presidency of Joan Kramar, Stone Harbor Borough Council member, scrutiny was placed on the aging guidelines that governed the body for decades.
Among items that concerned Kramar was the sexist term “he” for all league officers. That was modified to “he or she.”
Another long-outdated mention in the bylaws was the fact that annual dues were $15 and there was to be an annual meeting. Annual dues are presently $500 per municipality, which includes six meetings with 24 meals allowed annually. Those meetings are held January, February, March, April, October and November. 
When the Herald reports on league meetings, the newspaper pays for the meal, not the municipalities.
Meetings are rotated throughout the county with host municipalities making arrangements with a restaurant for their hosting month.
Finally, the evening of the meeting, long the fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. was challenged by Freeholder Kristine Gabor. Gabor noted that the board finds it helpful to meet with municipal officials at the meeting. Could another evening be found?
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton had just apologized for missing some of the meetings due to the freeholder board’s 4:30 p.m. regular meetings, held the fourth Tuesday, which often run long, and are then routinely followed by an executive session.
The prospect of switching meetings to any other day of the month caused frowns around the dining room at Alethea’s Restaurant.
Here’s why:
First and third Mondays are out for Middle and Lower townships.
First and third Tuesdays are out for Dennis Township and Stone Harbor.
First Tuesday is out for North Wildwood.
Third Tuesday is out for Cape May.
Second and fourth Mondays are out for Upper Township.
Second and fourth Wednesdays are out for Avalon and West Cape May.
Second Wednesday, Wildwood meets are 3:30 p.m. for work session with regular meeting following.
Third or fourth Wednesday for Wildwood Crest.
First and third Thursdays Woodbine Borough Council convenes.
Second Thursday Cape May Point.
First Friday West Wildwood.
Every Thursday Ocean City City Council meets for either work or regular session.
Sea Isle City wouldn’t be affected by any switch, since it meets at 10 a.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays.
After mulling all those sessions, the league opted to meet the fourth Thursday of its meeting months.
The proposal will be taken up at the April meeting, which will be hosted by Cape May Point.

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