Council has a full agenda today. Included on the consent agenda are resolutions authorizing the continuation of our shared services agreements with Ocean City for our business administrator, construction official, and subcode officials. These agreements have served our community very well for the past decade, delivering considerable savings to our taxpayers. By maintaining these agreements, we do not merely achieve cost savings; we enrich our operations through our strong partnership with Ocean City. This collaboration fosters shared knowledge, stability, and a powerful synergy. Working together allows both municipalities to maximize resources and provide the seamless services our residents expect. I strongly urge council to authorize these agreements so we can keep this proven, efficient system working for our taxpayers.
Also on today's agenda is the reappointment of city solicitor Paul Baldini. Mr. Baldini has served as our city attorney since 1993, and there is no one with more profound, comprehensive knowledge of the inner workings of our city government. Over more than three decades, his sharp legal expertise and steady guidance have been crucial to navigating complex municipal challenges. Council, the administration, and our taxpayers have all benefited immensely from his dedicated service and unmatched institutional memory.
Having his reliable counsel ensures our city remains legally protected and structurally sound as we move forward, making his reappointment a logical decision.
I mention these shared service agreements and the appointment of our solicitor because they represent our most vital investments: investments in human capital. In local government, we often talk about capital projects like roads and buildings, and there is no doubt about the importance of those physical investments. But at its absolute core, local government is fundamentally a service organization - and it is skilled people who provide those vital services. The leadership positions up for authorization on council’s agenda today are a large part of our ongoing success, and I give them my highest recommendation for approval.
Switching to seasonal operations, schools are out, meaning we are now in full summer swing. As our beaches get crowded, I want to remind everyone to swim exclusively at guarded beaches. Speaking of our beaches, Norfolk Dredging has started pumping sand for the crucial replenishment of our downtown beaches. They have already placed over 100 thousand cubic yards of sand so far, and we are looking at final completion of the project around the middle of July. You can get updates of the project's progress right on the homepage of our website.
Looking ahead to next week, we will have our very first drone show, which will take place on Tuesday, June 30 at 9:00 p.m. The show will take place over the marsh to the left of the kayak launch facing Dealy Field. The best viewing area for this exciting show is anywhere at Dealy Field itself, as well as in the area north and east of the field. And of course, you won’t want to miss our spectacular fireworks show on the 4th of July starting at 9:15 p.m. Once again, we’ll be launching the fireworks from a barge in the ocean off 50th Street.
This is our last council meeting before the July 4th holiday, and I want to once again ask everyone to fly the flag. It would be truly great to see every property in the city show our national pride and spirit in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary.
As always, please remember we are one Sea Isle City and together we’ll be stronger than ever.
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
During the beginning of the June 23 City Council meeting, the council discussed the appointments of individual council members to the Planning Board and the Tourism Commission. In accordance with city ordinance, one council member serves on the Planning Board, and one member serves on the Tourism Commission. The council came to consensus that Frank Edwardi would be appointed to the Planning Board, and Ian Ciseck would be appointed to the Tourism Commission.
Each of the resolutions on the consent agenda were approved, including…
• Resolution 083, which authorized the issuance of the ABC renewal license for the Oar House.
• Resolution 088, which authorized the execution of a shared services agreement with Ocean City for Construction Official and Sub-Code Official Services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Resolution 089, which authorized the 2026 4th of July and New Year’s Eve Fireworks Shows.
• Resolution 091, which authorized the execution of a shared services agreement with Ocean City for Municipal Engineering Services and Business Administrator from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.
• Resolution 093, which authorized submission of a grant application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Municipal Aid Program for the reconstruction of Pleasure Avenue, from 85th Street to 94th Street.
• Resolution 094, which authorized the appointment of an ABC Conflict Attorney, Anthony Golowski II, of the law firm Goldberg Segalla.
• Resolution 095, which authorized professional services for Auditing and Accounting with Ford, Scott & Associates.
• Resolution 097, appointing Frank Edwardi as a Class III Member to the Planning Board (1 Year).
• Resolution 098, appointing Ian Ciseck as Council Member to the Tourism Commission (1 Year).
• Resolution 099, which authorized the appointment of Paul J. Baldini as City Solicitor for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Under the pending business portion of the council meeting, council president Mary Tighe discussed the city’s noise ordinance, and indicated that it must be submitted to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Councilwoman Tighe directed the solicitor to review the DEP’s model noise ordinance and blend it with the city’s current ordinance for review by council and the administration, after which it can be submitted to DEP for approval.
Under the new business portion of the council meeting, the council elected Mike Jargowsky as city council president for the term from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Current council president Tighe explained the provisions in the city ordinance that dictate that council members may hold the council presidency for one year per 4-year period, ensuring a rotation of the council membership in this position.
During the “Citizen Comment” portion of the meeting, several citizens stepped to the microphone to comment on various topics, including the following:
-Enforcement of the city’s ordinances regarding matters related to noise, property maintenance, trash, and construction codes.
-Complimented the Hometown Heroes banner program.
-Suggested the Army Corps of Engineers consider dredging Townsends Inlet.
-Expressed concerns about the condition of the Coast Guard Property at 82nd street.
Police Chief Tony Garreffi gave an update on the police department’s current efforts to certify officers in noise enforcement. The police have a robust action plan in place to ensure public safety and quality of life issues, and at the next council meeting, the chief will provide a report on the work of the department.
Our next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, July 14, at 10:00 AM on the third floor of City Hall – and we hope to see you there!
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President Mary Tighe
Ian Ciseck
Frank Edwardi
Michael Jargowski
William Kehner
