Times Talk
Members of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium present Mayor Len Desiderio and Business Administrator George Savastano with its second place awards for Favorite Beach Overall in New Jersey and Favorite Beach in Cape May County.
SEA ISLE PLACES SECOND IN ‘FAVORITE BEACHES’ POLL
The New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium conducts an annual poll in which the public votes for its favorite beach in the state, and in the coastal towns in Cape May, Atlantic, Ocean, and Monmouth counties.
When the top finishers were announced July 7, Sea Isle City learned that not only did it finish second in Cape May County, but also second in the entire state.
Said Mayor Leonard Desiderio: “It was a great honor to be in attendance when Sea Isle City was called to receive this prestigious award, and I’m very proud that Sea Isle placed second statewide.”
Ocean City came in first for both the state and the county. Here are the results for the other counties. Monmouth County: Asbury Park first, Spring Lake second. Ocean County: Point Pleasant first, Beach Haven second. Atlantic County, Margate first, Brigantine second.
BEACH TAG CONTEST IS UNDERWAY
Sea Isle City’s annual Beach Tag Art Contest is now open. Youngsters up to age 17 are invited to participate by submitting an original design for the 2024 beach tags. All entries must be received by Friday, Sept. 1.
Four categories are available: Seasonal, Winter Holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Veterans tags. Each child who participates must choose one of these four categories and may submit only one piece of artwork based on that category.
Entry forms are available in the lobby of City Hall (233 JFK Blvd.), at the Sea Isle City Welcome Center (300 JFK Blvd.), and in the lobby of the Sea Isle City branch of the Cape May County Library (4800 Central Ave.). Those wishing to participate can also download the form and parental waiver from the City’s website at seaislecitynj.us on the Departments/Beach Tag page.
All submissions must contain original artwork. No trademarked images are permitted. Submissions can contain no more than four colors.
The winners will be announced during the City Council meeting on Sept. 26.
New ordinance targets flood prevention.
COUNCIL ADOPTS FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION ORDINANCE
At the end of May, the Sea Isle City Council introduced its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. Sea Isle City is a low-lying barrier island, which makes it susceptible to flooding. This ordinance was put into effect in order to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions.
The adoption of this ordinance is a significant part of ensuring that Sea Isle City regains its Class 3 status in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System after having dropped down to Class 4. Homeowners in Class 3 municipalities are eligible for 35% discounts on their flood insurance, as opposed to 30% for Class 4 communities.
The NFIP Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that encourages and recognizes community flood-management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP. The three main goals of the program are to reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property, strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and to foster comprehensive floodplain management.
With more than 1,500 communities participating in the NFIP Community Rating System nationwide, Sea Isle City was the first in New Jersey to reach Class 3 status and hopes to reach Class 2 status.
Sea Isle City’s participation and success in the program has saved property owners around $800,000 annually on flood insurance.
Mayor Desiderio thanked floodplain manager Neil Byrne and City Solicitor Paul Baldini for Sea Isle’s success in the program.
Former Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue administered the oath of office to Mayor Desiderio who was joined by his mother Carmel, wife Carmela and daughter Carmela.
Councilman Bill Kehner, joined by his wife Cheryl and their son Bill Jr., received his oath of office from U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew.
Mayor Desiderio administered the oath of office to Frank Edwardi Jr. who was joined by his wife Patty and their son, Dante.
MAYOR DESIDERIO STARTS HIS NINTH TERM
Leonard Desiderio was sworn in for his ninth term as mayor during the Sea Isle City Council reorganization ceremony July 1 at Excursion Park. His running mates, City Council members William Kehner Sr. and Frank Edwardi Jr., also were sworn in for new four-year terms. They ran together unopposed in the May municipal election, as they also did in 2019 and 2015.
Former Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue administered the oath of office to Desiderio, who was joined by his mother Carmel, wife Carmela, and daughter Carmela. Kehner was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew and joined by his wife Cheryl and their son William Jr. Mayor Desiderio swore in councilman Edwardi who was joined by his wife Patty and their son, Dante.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, councilman J.B. Feeley was appointed Council President for the year. Each year, the position rotates among the five council members.
City council members also include J.B. Feeley, Jack Gibson, and Mary Tighe, Bill Kehner and Frank Edwardi. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 10am on the third floor of City Hall.
From left, Lt. Jim McQuillen, Chief Anthony Garreffi, and Capt. Steve Conte pose in front of the SICPD’s accreditation certificates.
POLICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN ACCREDITED BY STATE ASSOCIATION
The Sea Isle City Police Department has done it again! Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced at the June 15 City Council meeting that the department has again won accreditation for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police for the fourth time since 2014.
The NJSACOP has been leading New Jersey law enforcement since 1912. The accreditation process is a method that assists law enforcement agencies to improve their overall performance by adopting certain standards which contain a clear statement of objectives. Accreditation status is a high honor. It represents a significant achievement and acknowledgement, where an agency has implemented policies that are conceptually sound and operationally effective. It also is an acknowledgement of effective and professional leadership.
The Sea Isle City Police Department is headed by Chief Anthony Garreffi and Captain Steve Conte.
“They should be very proud of the hard work they have performed,” Desiderio said of the department.
Sea Isle and Cape May County officials pose with $400,000 check for water infrastructure projects that each municipality in the county received. From left: County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski, SIC Council member Frank Edwardi, Council President Mary Tighe, Council member William Kehner, SIC Mayor Leonard Desiderio (also director of the Cape May County board of commissioners), and Council members J.B. Feeley and Jack Gibson.
COUNTY GRANT HELPS PAY FOR SANITARY SEWER PROJECT
Adjacent to Sea Isle City’s largest recreation facility, Dealy Field, sat a sanitary sewer replacement project that was in need of funding. Cape May County’s American Rescue Plan Act Infrastructure Grant Program became part of the solution. The program provides $400,000 to each of the 16 municipalities in the county for infrastructure projects.
Sea Isle’s nearly $900,000 project involved the replacement of the deteriorated sanitary sewer on Sounds Avenue; the elimination of the deteriorated sanitary sewer system beneath Dealy Field; the redirection of the sanitary sewer system down 59th Street; and the replacement of a water main on 59th Street.
The Sea Isle City Council believed this project was an ideal fit for the grant program, and the Cape May County Board of Commissioners agreed. Said Mayor Leonard Desiderio: “I can say that we are very happy to work with Cape May County and also to receive this grant money – and we look forward to working with the county in the future on more projects.”
Work on the project was completed in the spring, and repaving is scheduled for the fall.
Breccan Baldini, a 5-year-old from Sea Isle City, gets to touch the Stanley Cup, held by Las Vegas Golden Knights assistant coach John Stevens, while Bella Baldini enjoys the moment.
BRINGING THE CUP HOME
The Stanley Cup paid a visit to Sea Isle City on July 17, courtesy of Las Vegas Golden Knights assistant coach John Stevens. The Cup’s appearance was made possible by the Golden Knights winning the Cup as the National Hockey League championship by beating the Florida Panthers in five games in the best-of-seven finals. Las Vegas was in just its sixth season since joining the league as an expansion franchise. It’s a longstanding tradition that the Cup travels to the hometowns and special places in the lives of the players and coaches who won it. Stevens, a former Flyers head coach, is a Sea Isle resident.
