CREST HAVEN – Cape May County freeholders’ reorganization Jan. 9 was pro forma thanks to a blizzard dubbed Grayson. The original date of the ceremony, held in the Administration Building, was to be Jan. 4; but Gov. Christie declared a state of emergency due to the storm, and the event was postponed.
State statutes decree that elected officials must take their oaths of office within certain parameters. To comply with the law, Sheriff Robert A. Nolan had taken his oath privately within 30 days of being elected. Similarly, incumbent freeholders Jeffrey Pierson and Will Morey had to scurry to find a person with authority to administer their oaths Jan. 4.
County Republican Chairman Marcus Karavan, an attorney, braved the storm to go to Morey’s Wildwood Crest home to administer the oath as Morey wife Janice observed and their “grand dog” watched, said Morey.
County Counsel James Arsenault similarly headed to Pierson’s Marmora home where, surrounded by grandchildren and other family members, the retired National Guard brigadier general took his oath.
To formalize the actions, cloaked in pageantry by the Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard, which presented the colors, the annual reorganization meeting took place.
Eagle Scout Michael Nolan, grandson of the new sheriff, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Erma resident Bella McKeown, an 11-year-old fifth grader at Maud Abrams School, then wowed the room with her rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” and later “God Bless America.”
Lower Township Mayor and Deacon Erik Simonsen delivered the invocation and Benediction.
Superior Court Judge Michael J. Donohue formally administered Morey’s oath. His wife, Janice, held the Bible.
Fulginiti then administered the oath to Pierson as Virginia Tomlin, director of the county Veterans Bureau, held the Bible.
Finally, the oath for Nolan was administered by Donohue. With Nolan, the county’s 100th sheriff, was his wife Michelle and grandson Michael Nolan.
A full agenda of resolutions were passed by consent. Among them was the naming of Gerald Thornton as director and Leonard Desiderio as vice director.
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