Before I start, I’d like to ask everyone to pause for a moment of silence to remember the firefighters who were senselessly shot this past weekend in Idaho.
As we begin this term of City Council, I’d like to congratulate our newly elected councilmen, Ian Ciseck and Mike Jargowsky, and our re-elected councilwoman, Mary Tighe.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been under the mayor-council form of government for 18 years now; and I look forward to working with Ian, Mike, Mary, and incumbent councilmen Frank Edwardi and Bill Kehner as we do the important work for the people of Sea Isle City.
While today’s agenda’s main purpose is the inauguration of the elected council members and election of council president and vice-president, council does have a few items of business to attend to.
Today’s agenda includes resolutions authorizing professional services contracts with our city solicitor and our auditor.
Paul Baldini has been the city’s attorney for many years now, and his guidance and counsel have served the city excellently during his tenure. Paul is an exceptional professional, and the administration absolutely endorses the approval of this resolution.
Ford-Scott and Associates, led by Leon Costello, have also been the city’s auditor for many years, and represent the finest in the financial industry; and the administration wholeheartedly endorses approval of this resolution.
The July Fourth holiday is nearly here, and Sea Isle City is ready. The weather forecast for Independence Day looks great, and our fireworks show is set for 9:15 PM. The fireworks will be shot from a barge off the 50th Street beach, so you should be able to see the show from most locations on the island.
Last week I once again toured our new Community Center, and I’m pleased to report that the project is moving forward on schedule and within budget. The building is now watertight, and interior work is proceeding with multiple sub-contractors on site. We’re still on schedule for a fall opening, and we can’t wait to show the facility off to all our residents and visitors.
I continue to get positive comments about our new electronic Welcome Sign at the corner of JFK Boulevard and Central Avenue. I want to thank City Council for their support in advancing this project and I want to thank city staff for coordinating the acquisition and installation of the sign. It’s just one more example of how we can accomplish good things when we work together.
With all the people and activity in town, I’d like to remind everyone to take it easy, slow down, and enjoy all that Sea Isle has to offer; and 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
Pictured above at the July 1, 2025 Reorganization Meeting: (left to right) Council Members Frank Edwardi, Ian Ciseck, Mary Tighe, Michael Jargowsky & Bill Kehner.
There were no ordinances listed on City Council’s June 24 meeting agenda; however, each of the resolutions on the June 24 Consent Agenda was approved, including…
• Resolution 115, which amended a previous resolution that was written for the purchase of a dump truck for the Department of Public Works (correcting the trade-in vehicle’s VIN number).
• Resolution 116, which authorized various refunds of tax payments.
• Resolution 117, which authorized the cancellation of utility excess charges.
• Resolution 120, which outlines all of the details for an upcoming bond sale, including maturity schedules, dates, terms, the auction provider, etc.
• Resolution 121, which combined all the various bond ordinances that the city is going to issue in a single bond sale, in the amount of $21,000,000.
• Resolutions 125 and 126, which were written in honor of Councilman Jack Gibson and Councilman J.B. Feeley, respectively, who are finishing their time on City Council as of July 1.
Near the end of the June 24 meeting, Council members Kehner, Tighe and Edwardi each praised and thanked Councilmen Gibson and Feeley for their service, and they presented each with a framed copy of their resolutions (125 and 126). Additionally, several members of the audience stepped to the microphone during the “Citizen Comment” portion of the meeting to express their gratitude for Councilman Gibson’s and Councilman Feeley’s many years of service to Sea Isle City.
The next City Council meeting will be a “reorganization” meeting at 12 noon on Tuesday, July 1, on the third floor of City Hall, where Councilman-elect Mike Jargowsky and Councilman-elect Ian Ciseck will take their oaths of office, and Councilwoman Mary Tighe will once again take her oath of office and continue her service as a member of City Council.
In closing, City Council reminds local business owners that the city requires mercantile licenses for brick-and-mortar businesses that operate in town. Additionally, property owners who rent out their commercial or residential property for any length of time are required to obtain rental licenses from the city. If you are a business owner or a property owner that still needs to acquire a 2025 mercantile or rental license, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 609-263-8687, ext. 1200 – or download and submit a permit application form, which can be found on the “City Clerk” page at www.seaislecitynj.us.
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President William Kehner
Frank Edwardi
J.B. Feeley
Jack Gibson
Mary Tighe
Best Wishes to City Councilmen J.B. Feeley and Jack Gibson, shown on June 24
