With Memorial Day 2021 in our rear view mirrors, this is the time of year when Sea Isle City truly begins to shine! In addition to good times spent on the beach, weekend fishing trips, and enjoyable evenings spent strolling along the promenade or dining at one of Sea Isle City’s many popular restaurants, summer is also the time we enjoy a variety of attractions and events right here in “the “Capital of Cape May County.”
Case in point, this weekend is Father’s Day weekend, and it is also traditionally Skimmer Festival Weekend in Sea Isle City. As we have previously announced, the events we typically host on Saturday of Skimmer Weekend were cancelled this year, including the food court on JFK Boulevard, the free family activities at Excursion Park, and the Seaside Market along the Promenade. However, in lieu of this year’s Seaside Market, I have invited all of our local business owners to participate in a Skimmer Community Sidewalk Sale on Saturday. Also, on Sunday morning, the Snake Brothers Band will return to the Promenade to entertain passersby with live bluegrass music – and we will also be hosting the annual Skimmer Antique Auto Show on Sunday, along with the Antique Auto Parade, which are always fun attractions on Father’s Day.
Also this weekend, people across America will be celebrating a new federal holiday, Juneteenth, which commemorates President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which paved the way for the passing of the 13th Amendment and the formal abolishment of slavery in the United States. Last year, the State of New Jersey established Juneteenth as a State holiday; and today President Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday – much to the delight of freedom loving people everywhere!
Knowing the importance of Juneteenth, this weekend I hope everyone will acknowledge how far we have come as a nation, recognize how much work we still have ahead of us, and never forget that we are all Americans and that the expression “united we stand, divided we fall” should have true meaning in all of our lives!
Speaking of a united America, don’t forget that our community’s annual Independence Day Fireworks Show will take place on July Fourth at 9:00 PM. I look forward to everyone coming together in Sea Isle City as “the rockets’ red glare” fill the skies with light and our hearts with patriotism. We intend to play patriotic music along the Promenade during the fireworks show, which will make the experience even more enjoyable – so mark your calendars now and plan to be in Sea Isle City throughout July Fourth weekend.
As you probably know, the aforementioned Promenade speakers were installed during last year’s Promenade Lighting Project, which included the installation of new light posts, banners and a public address system that run from the Spinnaker Towers to our Beach Patrol Headquarters at 44th Street. This summer, we want to use the new speakers to start each day in a patriotic way, so we will be playing the National Anthem each morning at 10:00 AM, at which time I hope everyone stops for a moment to appreciate what a wonderful country we have.
In other news, you may have noticed that several new street signs have been installed at various intersections around Sea Isle City. The new street signs you see today are the prototypes of next year’s community-wide Street Sign Project, which will replace all of the fading green signs throughout town. So, be on the lookout for the new signs in 2022 – but don’t let their eye-catching appearance grab all of your attention as you drive through town, and always try to keep your eyes on the road!
And speaking of new signage, have you noticed the colorful new signs at our pickleball courts or any of the new accent-railings that we installed on the Promenade? Last year, we decided to add some whimsy to our recreation areas with fun signage – which is turning out to be very well received. In addition to the new pickleball signs and promenade accents I just mentioned, we will soon be installing colorful banners in our playgrounds – all of which will be ideal for family photos ops. When sharing your Sea Isle City photos online or via text with your loved ones, please use the hashtag “#PlaySIC” so you can let people know that Sea Isle City is a great place if you want to frolic and play!
As I mentioned in my most recent newsletter message, it is terrapin turtle nesting season, and I once again ask all motorists to please slow-down and be on the look-out for turtles in our roadways. It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 terrapin turtle eggs reach mature adulthood, plus motor vehicles cause hundreds of terrapin deaths each year in our region, so please slow down and allow our turtle friends to cross the roads safely.
This week’s “Shout Out” goes to all of the people of Sea Isle City – and our visitors – who have shown great patience during the roadwork we have had to deal with recently. I am very grateful for everyone’s tolerance and flexibility as we make necessary repairs to our infrastructure – and as we continually make Sea Isle City better and better.
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
City Council's Message
June 17, 2021
On June 8, City Council held its first “in-person” meeting since the start of the pandemic – and the members of Council were very happy to see people gathered inside Council Chambers once again!
At the start of the June 8 meeting, Mayor Desiderio stated that a fair amount of beach erosion has occurred at Townsend Inlet Waterfront Park in the far southern-end of Sea Isle City. Because of that erosion, a portion of the inlet beach is currently closed to the public. The Mayor also stated that the City will coordinate with the Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers to determine the cause of the erosion and any possible solutions.
Following the Mayor’s comments, Ordinance 1671 was introduced with first reading on June 8. Ordinance 1671 was written to update the existing recreation ordinance and allow for new summer recreation programs. Ordinance 1671 will have second reading and possible adoption during the June 22 City Council meeting.
Following second reading, Ordinance 1670 was adopted on June 8. This ordinance was written to authorize the use of surplus funds to purchase the empty parcels at 229 and 233 81st Street, thus allowing the City to take title of the aforementioned lots, convert them to environmental properties, and end litigation.
There were four (4) free-standing resolutions on the June 8 agenda that were voted on separately from the resolutions on the June 8 Consent Agenda. Each of these four resolutions, all of which pertained to liquor licensing, was approved…
• Resolution 120 authorized the issuance of an ABC license to Landis Thirty Nine Inc.; Pogo, Inc.; Braca Enterprises, Inc.; Diamonds Liquor, Inc.; Lobster Loft; 42nd Place Liquor LLC; and MRG Liquors, LLC.
• Resolution 121 requested the State to issue a Conflict of Interest ABC License for Freda Sea Isle Inn, Inc., trading as Kix’s Lounge & Package goods.
• Resolution 122 authorized the issuance of an ABC License to the Yacht Club of Sea Isle city.
• Resolution 123 authorized the issuance of an ABC license to the Commodore Club.
Each of the resolutions on the June 8 Consent Agenda was approved, including…
• Resolution 125, which authorized the submittal of a Grant Application and Execution of the Grant Agreement for a 2022 New Jersey Department of Transportation Municipal Aid Road Program Application, for the reconstruction of Central Avenue from JFK Boulevard to 36th Street.
• Resolution 126, which authorized a labor contract between the City of Sea Isle City and the Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO Local 1036 (Clerical Employees) for the term of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2022, with the option of extending through December 31, 2023.
• Resolution 127, which authorized a labor contract between the City of Sea Isle City and its Confidential Employees as well as the City’s System Analyst for the term of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2022, with the option of extending through December 31, 2023.
• Resolution 128, which authorized a contract with Jon Heisman, of Black Bear Lacrosse, for Summer Lacrosse Camp, per the City’s Division of Recreation, with the City receiving 10% of total registration fees.
• Resolution 129, which authorized a contract with FM Schiavone in the amount of $18,065 for two separate projects at City Hall (to make repairs to the parking garage ceiling and to patch and clean concrete).
During the “New Business” portion of the June 8 meeting, City Council discussed at length the transfer of an alcohol beverage license from Bennet Enterprises, Inc. (formerly held at LaCosta Lounge located at 4000 Landis Avenue) to 42nd Place Liquor LLC (the “Ludlum” establishment on the site of the former LaCosta Lounge).
Following that discussion, numerous members of the audience stepped to the microphone during the “Citizen Comment” portion of the meeting to express their support of the license transfer and to ask for a swift change to the existing proximity ordinance that currently prevents the Council’s approval of the license transfer.
Following the Citizen Comments on June 8, a motion was made by Councilman Edwardi to introduce a new ordinance (1672, by title and explanation) that would allow for a license to be returned to its previous location in the event it is not attached to a licensed premises at the time of transfer. That motion was approved by all other Council members, with the exception of Council President Kehner, who recused himself from the vote at the request of the attorney representing 42nd Place Liquor LLC. Second Reading and Public Hearing for Ordinance 1672 is scheduled to take place during the June 22 City Council meeting.
The next City Council meeting will take place at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 22, inside Council Chambers, located on the third floor of City Hall. –We hope to see you there!
Best Regards from the Members of City Council,
Council President William Kehner
Frank Edwardi
J.B. Feeley
Jack Gibson
Mary Tighe
