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Residents Again Push Commissioners on Transparency

Residents Again Push Commissioners on Transparency

By Christopher South

County Board of Commissioners Director Leonard Desiderio.
County Board of Commissioners Director Leonard Desiderio.

CREST HAVEN – Members of the public continued to press the Cape May County commissioners to be more transparent at the commission meeting Jan. 28.

Wildwood Crest resident Lisa Rippo, who announced that she has attended the last three or four commissioner meetings, referred to a graphic published in the Herald showing county government scoring low on transparency. Rippo advised the board that while Stone Harbor scored six out of six stars, the county only scored one star for transparency.

She said she had been traveling to other towns to see how their governing bodies handled the matter.

“Stone Harbor is upping the bar,” she said, “and (the county) is pulling it down.”

The commissioners allow five minutes for public comment. After using all of her time, Rippo’s husband, John, stepped up to the podium and began to read the editorial on transparency in the Jan. 22 edition of the Herald.

At one point, County Counsel Jeffrey Lindsay told Rippo his time was up, but asked how much longer he expected to be.

“About two weeks,” he replied, a reference to the time the county had previously waited before releasing audio of meetings. It now releases the audio within 72 hours, a change made this year.

Lindsay replied that Rippo’s time had expired.

Lisa Lebbree, of West Wildwood, a former special education teacher, told the commissioners her students, if left on their own, often would not perform up to their potential. She advised the commissioners they too should be living up to a higher standard.

“The county should be a leader in transparency and not just do the minimum as required by law,” Lebree said. “Please put out some effort and live up to your potential.”

Another member of the public, David McWilliams of Wildwood Crest, said Crest borough government allowed audio access and participation in its meetings, asking, “Why could it not happen at the county as well?”

“Why would you not have an audio meeting to allow the public to participate?”

Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio thanked McWilliams for his comments.

Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.

Reporter

Christopher South is a reporter for the Cape May County Herald.

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