OC Officials Cite Faith, Family at Reorganization

OCEAN CITY – Faith, family, and community were at the forefront of Ocean City City Council’s annual reorganization meeting July 1, at which Mayor Jay Gillian took the oath of office for a third term.
Hundreds attended the special meeting at the Music Pier rather than at City Hall to accommodate the crowd, which was dwarfed by the crowds on the teeming boardwalk and beach, which seemed close to capacity on the sweltering Sunday afternoon.
Also at the meeting, three at-large council members took their oaths of office.
Karen Bergman, Keith Hartzell and Peter Madden were reelected in the non-partisan May election. They were unopposed, while Gillian fended off a challenge from John Flood, a former council member.
Council unanimously voted Madden to serve as council president for another year. There were a few other routine items on the agenda, but the event was primarily about the pomp, with songs by members of the Ocean City Theater Company and an invocation led by Rev. Michael P. Rush of St. Damien’s Roman Catholic Parish.
“Lord, open their minds so that they may receive your eternal wisdom. Lord, open their spirits so that they may know your guidance. Lord, open their hearts so that they may receive your wonderful love,” Rush prayed.
“Help them to grow closer as a group, and nurture the bonds of community, to represent all members of our community and promote the common good,” he continued.
Each of those taking the oath of office offered comments, praising their family members and friends. Each council member cited their faith in God as a vital part of their public service.
Emotions ran high, with each official either mentioning getting choked up, or becoming too emotional to speak.
Madden even planned for this, having his oldest daughter Riley stand next to him to step in and read his prepared comments when he was unable to do it himself.
Gillian was the first to take the oath, administered by Ocean City Municipal Court Judge Richard Russell. Joined by his wife, Michele Gillian, Gillian promised to speak briefly; suggesting many would rather get to the beach. He lauded members of council and the city’s management team.
During his comments, Gillian twice quoted President Ronald Reagan, the first in Reagan’s quip that the most terrifying phrase in the English language is “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”
“Here in Ocean City, we want that to be the absolute opposite. This administration, this council is all about helping and being there,” he said. He stated that the voters were asking for teamwork.
He also quoted Reagan as saying there is no limit to the good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.
Superior Court Judge Susan Sheppard, a former Ocean City councilwoman, administered the oath of office to Karen Bergman, who was joined by grandchildren Michael, Max, and Jack.
Bergman said she was blessed to serve with the members of the council, and thanked Ocean City for reelecting Gillian. She described council as a diverse group, mentioning that she is the only woman on the governing body.
“I believe it is my duty to provide a commonsense female perspective to the issues at hand,” she said.
Bergman presented her faith as central to her role on council.
“Most of all, I am thankful to my God. He is my source. I am nothing without his presence. I always try to remember, I serve him first, then serving all of you comes naturally,” she said.
Hartzell’s grandniece Merin Campbell held the Bible for his oath, joined by her mother Sarah Campbell, with Sheriff Robert Nolan administering the oath.
Hartzell spoke at length, also citing his faith and his family, and speaking about the importance of his late mother and father in his life, with several asides covering the Philadelphia Eagle’s excellent season.
While Hartzell ended with faith, he began with it, saying everything we do is by the grace of God.
He said council and the mayor work as a team. He said they do not always get along, but they believe it is important to present a common front, saying his parents would only argue out of their children’s hearing.
“So if we don’t argue and fight and scrap in front of you, it’s because our presentation to you should be what it is: the best that we can do to pass the proper legislation and to work as a team,” he said.
Gillian administered the oath to Madden, who was joined by his wife Ashley, and children Riley, Avery, Brynn and Carter. He handed off his prepared comments to Riley several times, allowing her to read off his thanks to his wife and to several family members.
“I’ve been a shoobie as long as I can remember, before moving here in 2004. But moving here was definitely a life-changing decision,” Madden said. They lived in Allentown, Pa. with Ashley and the children spending the summers in Ocean City. He said he hated having to head back to Pennsylvania, feeling like he was leaving his heart in one place while heading to another.
They moved to Ocean City year-round, and their family grew.
Riley again took up the speech: “My love for the town and the community has surpassed what I thought it could. I watched as my kids learned to ride their bikes on the boardwalk, walk barefoot to get ice cream, spend all day on the sandy beach, and then be wiped out before dinner. We spend our time outdoors more than in and wear bathing suits more than regular clothes.”
Michael Hartman, Ocean City’s special events coordinator, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. A very brief City Council meeting followed the ceremony, after which Hartman invited those attending to stay for lunch, courtesy of Jay and Michele Gillian.
To contact Bill Barlow, email bbarlow@cmcherald.com.