WILDWOOD — How many confidential assistants do the Wildwood Commissioners need?
Under the current form of government, one secretary or confidential assistant is allowed per each elected official according to state statute 11A: 3-5. Currently, the city is employing Lisa Hare, Sue Maxwell and Ellen DeVito as confidential assistants to serve three commissioners.
City Clerk Chris Wood said that Hare is assigned to work with the Construction Office of the Wildwoods, which falls under Commissioner Bill Davenport’s department. Woods said that Maxwell and DeVito work in the Mayor’s Office, and are assigned to help all three Commissioners.
However, questions arose when Commissioner Gary DeMarzo hired Sam Lashman, a Mar-gate attorney, as a confidential aide to work on special projects.
Wood said that Lashman was hired without advertising, interviewing, or having the title appear in the salary ordinance. Hare, Maxwell and DeVito were originally hired by resolution, he said.
When asked about the decision to hire a fourth confidential assistant, DeMarzo responded, “that this has become yet another political situation, which unfortunately involves legal and employment issues. Therefore I am very limited in commenting relative to this matter. I only wish the best for all parties involved.”
City Solicitor Marcus Karavan has told Lashman in two letters to “cease and desist from issuing any legal communication on municipal stationary utilizing the municipal address.”
Karavan called Lashman’s use of municipal resources while functioning as a municipal employee as representing the private interests of DeMarzo “unethical and improper.”
Maxwell’s position as a confidential assistant has also come under fire. Maxwell had signed a Rice Notice form, which means there will be open public discussion on the matter. That discussion was supposed to occur during the Oct. 28 meeting, but was rescheduled for another meeting.
The next commissioner’s meeting will be held on Nov. 12 at 3:30 p.m.
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