In a blink, Christmas Day 2024 has come and gone. Fortunately, this has been (and continues to be) another wonderful holiday season in Sea Isle City, and I once again want to thank everyone who helped make this year’s festivities so “Merry and Bright” for the people of our town!
In addition to Sea Isle’s outstanding civic organizations and our dedicated municipal employees, who hosted many holiday events for us, my thanks also go to everyone who supported our 2024 Mayor’s Holiday Toy & Food Drive – which was very successful and touched many lives! On Monday afternoon, we delivered the many donations that we collected during this year’s drive to families in need, and the gratitude that was expressed by this year’s recipients made the entire effort extremely worthwhile.
Another holiday event that I am happy to mention took place on the evening of December 19, when the Sea Isle City Recreation Office hosted their annual Holiday Lighting Contest. My thanks go to our Rec Team for once again organizing that popular event; and special thanks go to each of the homeowners and merchants who literally made our town “shine” by adding so many beautiful lights and colorful decorations to their properties – and that includes this year’s winners: The McLeer home at 305 39th Street (1st place); the Galdi home at 8907 Landis Avenue (2nd Place); and the Smith home at 211 67th Street (3rd place).
Additional thanks go to our Holiday Lighting Contest sponsors, including the good folks at First Bank of Sea Isle City, who donated the cash prizes for the first and second-place winners ($100 and $50), and our friend Rocky at Rocky & Fred’s Creative Design Florist, who donated a beautiful floral arrange for the third-place winner. –Thank you all!
Looking ahead, don’t forget that Sea Isle City’s Department of Community Services will host our town’s annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show from the JFK Boulevard Beach at 8:00 PM on December 31, which is always a fun event. Plus, Sea Isle City is a terrific place to ring-in the New Year – so hopefully you will be in town as 2025 rolls around!
Once the New Year arrives, be sure to spend as much time as possible in Sea Isle City over the coming twelve months, because 2025 certainly promises to be a year to remember, thanks to the amazing line-up of events, activities and attractions we have planned – and also because we will be opening our new Community Center in the fall!
And speaking of our future Community Center… On Monday morning, we hosted a “Topping Off Ceremony,” during which many people gathered to add their signatures to one of the final beams that was added to the building’s steel frame. It was a wonderful sight to behold as the beam was adorned with a large American Flag and hoisted into place at the top of the building – and you can easily see that flag and signed steel beam on the 46th Street side of the building the next time you drive by – so be sure to take a look!
I wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year – and much success in 2025!
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle,
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
During the December 24 City Council meeting, Ordinance 1720 was adopted following its Second Reading and Public Hearing. Ordinance 1720 was written to allow a $1 increase in the one-way daytime fares for Sea Isle City’s Jitney Service (thus raising the daytime fare from $2 to $3; and the $4 nighttime fare staying the same). Jitneys have been serving our community since 2014, and this is the first time the Jitney drivers have requested an increase to their fares since they first started carrying passengers up and down Landis Avenue; therefore, City Council feels that their request for an increase is reasonable.
Each of the resolutions on the December 24 Consent Agenda was approved, including…
• Resolution 199, which adopted Sea Isle City’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan.
• Resolution 202, which authorized “Change Funds” for the city’s Recreation Office, Municipal Marina and Beach Tag Office, so our employees will be able to accept cash payments and give the proper change when needed.
• Resolution 204, which authorized a Petty Cash Fund for the Sea Isle City Police Department that will be used for a wide variety of purposes and help the PD operate more efficiently.
• Resolution 205, which authorized the award of construction contract in the amount of $234,712 to Gemini General Contracting, of Mullica Hill, NJ, for the replacement of the Water Distribution System along 55th Street, as part of Sea Isle City’s ongoing infrastructure improvement and maintenance efforts.
• Resolution 207, which authorized a State Contract in the amount of $23,143 for the purchase of Security Cameras from New Jersey Business Systems, of Robbinsville, NJ, for the Sea Isle City Police Department (cameras to be placed at 60th, 62nd and 63rd Streets).
• Resolution 208, which authorized the “Acceptance of Award” from the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety for the 2024 State Body Armor Replacement Fund.
• Resolution 209, which authorized an Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services Contract in the amount of $52,000 for Sea Isle City’s 2025 Health Benefits Consulting, provided by Marsh & McLennan Agency, of Cape May, NJ. This service is pursuant to State Law and will provide our municipal employees with assistance when having insurance-related issues.
• Resolution 210, which authorized a Professional Service Contract in the amount of $24,000, for Risk Management Consulting, provided by Marsh & McLennan Agency, of Cape May, NJ, as required by our Municipal Joint Insurance Fund to ensure safety in Sea Isle City.
• Resolution 211, which confirmed Daniel McCann as Sea Isle City and Dennis Township’s 2025 Municipal Public Defender, with a salary of $20,000 (part of the shared services agreement Sea Isle City has entered into with Dennis Township for the provision of municipal court services).
• Resolution 212, which confirmed Thomas Rossi for Sea Isle City (in the amount of $22,500) and the firm of Blaney, Donohue & Weinberg for Dennis Township (in the amount of $25,000) as Municipal Prosecutor for each municipality. Dual prosecutors are required, as part of the city of Sea Isle and the Township of Dennis’ shared services agreement mentioned above (in Resolution 211). Such shared services agreements provide for greater efficiencies and cost savings for both municipalities.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year – and we remind you that your City Council members are always available if you need us!
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President William Kehner
Frank Edwardi
J.B. Feeley
Jack Gibson
Mary Tighe
