Vacant 7 Years, Seat Finally Filled

CREST HAVEN — When it comes to some appointments, it IS all political.
The three-member Cape May County Bridge Commission is one of those entities that must operate in a bi-partisan way, like the county Board of Elections.
That way, there is never a chance for one political party to rule unanimously.
On Tue., July 13, freeholders approved the appointments of a Republican and Democrat to the Bridge Commission.
Patrick Rosenello of North Wildwood was the Republican appointee to fill the unexpired seat of the late Gerard Desiderio.
Maryanne K. Murphy of Dennis Township, listed on the resolution as being from Cape May Court House, was the Democrat’s choice to replace Salvatore DeSimone of Rio Grande, who retired in June. She is Dennis Township Mayor John Murphy’s wife, and the mother of Allison Murphy, who is Sen. Jeff Van Drew’s (D-1st) chief of staff.
Desiderio had been the county’s GOP chair, and brother of Freeholder and Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio.
Since his passing in 2003, the Bridge Commission seat he held had been vacant. Desiderio was head of the Bridge Commission at the time of his death.
According to Stephen O’Connor, county administrator who is also (executive director) of the Bridge Commission, seats are filled in the following manner:
The political party in control of the Board of Chosen Freeholders (for decades the Republicans) gets to appoint two commissioners while the minority party gets one commissioner.
North Wildwood Mayor William Henfey, a Republican, is chair.
In a bid to trim costs, said O’Connor, the commission was operating since Desiderio’s 2003 passing, without that third seat being filled.
Thus, there was Democrat DeSimone and Republican Henfey.
That did not rest well with the state Department of Community Affairs, which has oversight of the commission.
For the past two years, O’Connor said, the DCA had urged the filling of Desiderio’s seat.
Finally, the freeholders, who appoint to the commission, were pressured to fill the third and vacant seat.
“We were trying to keep costs down, but they (DCA) said it has to be done,” O’Connor said.
Thus, freeholders went to Republican County Chairman Michael Donohue and Democrat County Chairman James Pickering for names to appoint.
The chairs’ selections were forwarded to freeholders for thumbs up or down. They went up, and the appointments were made.
Commission members earn $7,500 annually, said O’Connor.
As of May 21, 2010, those who serve get no health benefits, to which previous commissioners had been entitled.
The commission oversees operation of the five Ocean Drive toll bridges: Middle Thorofare, Grassy Sound, Townsend’s Inlet, Corson’s Inlet and Ocean City-Longport.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com