Lear Updates Cape May Chamber on State of City

CAPE MAY – The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May hosted keynote speaker Mayor Clarence Lear Feb. 11.
Lear stated that he has lived up to his campaign promises of three years ago. Admitting that, “We have not always shared a smooth ride,” Lear said he has worked “to maintain open, honest communications, to be as accessible as possible, to understand your interests and concerns and to respond to your questions.”
Lear pointed to the involvement of citizens in a large number of advisory groups, studying issues as varied as bicycle and pedestrian-friendly roads, safety on the city’s beaches, the future of the Promenade and other city-owned property, the seemingly intractable problem of parking and the controversial building of a combined public safety complex, among other issues.
Lear spoke of the city’s financial strength, citing increases in revenues from investments, beach tag sales, the occupancy tax and parking meters. He pointed to a fund balance that “has been trending upwards.”
He highlighted specific accomplishments, ranging from the successful establishment of the Fire Prevention Bureau to the decision to confront the dramatic rise in recycling costs, with a plan to take over the process as a city function. “It was a wise move,” Lear said, “and it has been a successful transition.”
New jitney service provided 50,000 riders with an opportunity to enjoy the city, free from the hassles of parking. Lear touted the success of the summer concert series and other recreational and entertainment programs.
A special place on his list of accomplishments went to the partnership forged among the city, the Library Commission and the county to save, renovate and repurpose the historic Franklin Street School, as a branch of the county library system.
“We are preserving another piece of Cape May’s rich African-American history in a way that unites our entire community,” he said.
As the city does its due diligence, and looks to a possible purchase of the fire-damaged Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church, across from the Franklin Street School, Lear hopes that a state Neighborhood Preservation grant program for the area would be “the first installment of what we hope will be multi-year funding.”
Speaking of the city’s water treatment plant, Lear said, “Plans are underway to expand our supply system.” The address contained no details, but Lear expressed a desire to “look into all aspects of our water system in the next year.”
Lear spoke of the expansion of “bike-friendly” paths and the city’s new bicycle map. He spoke of park improvements and the refurbishment of the town’s war memorial, praising the work of the Environmental Commission on increasing city sustainability and resilience.
He lauded the efforts of the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities, recognized successes at the city’s elementary school, and spoke warmly of the city’s relationship with the Coast Guard.
Lear also expressed his appreciation of the work done by the Chamber of Commerce in “the development and success of our city.”
In any speech of this type, it is near impossible to touch on all issues demanding attention in a community, yet sometimes it is useful to look at a retrospective speech at the end of one year and the beginning of another in terms of what is not said.
In past addresses to the chamber, Lear put redevelopment front and center, but it played no significant role this year. No mention was made of the recent purchase of the Beach Theater land and the plans for a premium resort hotel.
The public safety building was one bullet point on a list of “new opportunities and challenges.” Given the controversy around, and delay in, initiating construction, the building remains the key issue to be dealt with in the coming year.
Lear spoke of “exploring new possibilities with and for the Housing Authority,” but provided no sense of what his vision in that area might be. He recognized the importance of “addressing the need for affordable housing for the city’s workforce,” but left the concept as an undefined challenge.
At a time when many neighboring communities are directing much of their capital spending to the challenge of sea-level rise, flood mitigation and beach protection, the mayor’s list of opportunities and challenges did not give prominence to such issues.
While many groups were singled out, in terms of their contribution to the city’s vibrancy, the Historic Preservation Commission was not among them. Lear spoke of the need to “maintain our storied past and the period architecture that distinguishes us from other resort towns,” but to do so while pursuing those things that “excite and support our city’s growth and development.”
Lear is proud of the recent accomplishments, and the help he has received from citizen volunteers. The mayor’s message to the chamber was that “the state of the city is sound and stable,” a community with an “ambitious” agenda and a “contagious” spirit.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.