This holiday season is proving to be memorable in numerous ways – from the many wonderful events that have already taken place, to the generosity I have continually noticed. It’s clear the people of our community certainly know how to make the season bright!
Since my most recent newsletter message on December 11, our town has continually been a “beehive of holiday activity,” and it’s been wonderful to see so many folks making the most of this special time of year. For example, during the Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Friends and Family Night” on December 11, countless shoppers were able to enjoy terrific discounts at participating businesses throughout town – and who doesn’t like discounts, especially at this time of year!
Then, on December 12, the members of the Sea Isle City Women’s Civic Club hosted their annual Holiday Luncheon, during which they distributed a total of $4500 to five charities in our county, including several food pantries, an outreach center for people in need, and a free health care clinic for the uninsured. I want to thank the Civic Club for being such a wonderful presence in our community, just as they have been for over a century. For those who may not know, the Women’s Civic Club is Sea Isle’s oldest continually-operating civic organization – and we could not be prouder of them! Thank you, Women’s Civic Club!
On the evening of December 12, our local fire department hosted a “Decorated First Responders Parade” that resulted in a fleet of well-decorated fire engines cruising through our town, from our north-end to Townsend Inlet. My thanks go to each of the first response organizations that participated in the parade, including our local beach patrol, EMS, fire and police departments, as well as fire companies from Green Creek, Marmora, Middle Township, Ocean View, Rio Grande, Seaville and Stone Harbor – and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, which included a pick-up truck carrying Smokey the Bear. Thank you, First Responders – you certainly know how to celebrate the holidays in style!
Following the First Responders Parade, our Fire Department completed another festive drive through town during their “Candy Cane Run” on December 20, which delivered great joy (and plenty of candy canes) to many local properties. Thank you SICFD Firefighters for spreading so much holiday cheer!
Another group that knows “how to keep Christmas well” (as Charles Dickens famously said) is AARP Chapter 710 – which was evident on December 18, when our local AARP members hosted their annual Christmas Luncheon. During that event, I was happy to present Chapter 710 with a check for $3000 from the city, which will help them host special events for local seniors (which, to me, is money well-spent). As always, it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with our friends from AARP during their luncheon – and, to make it even more enjoyable, Santa Claus was there as well!
If you have recently driven through our town at night, you know that there are many homes and businesses that are beautifully decorated for the holidays, and among them are several properties that were entered in the Recreation Office’s 2025 Holiday Lighting Contest. The winning properties in this year’s competition include 305 - 39th Street, which won Best in Show (and $100 cash); and 210 - 67th, which won the “Griswold Award” (and $50 cash) for having the most lights. Both of these monetary prizes were provided courtesy of 1st Bank of Sea Isle City.
In addition to our traditional Holiday Lighting Contest, which requires properties to be nominated before judging takes place, this year the Recreation Office added a “People’s Choice Award” to the competition, which allowed members of the public to nominate any decorated property they admire. The top winner of the People’s Choice Holiday Lighting Award (which comes with a gift bag filled with goodies) went to VFW Post 1963. The second place People’s Choice winner was the home at 18 - 50th Street, which will receive a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Dalrymple’s Card and Gift Shoppe!
My thanks go to everyone who decorated their homes and businesses this year, whether you entered our Holiday Lighting Contest or not, because you helped make Sea Isle City extra-beautiful for the holidays!
In other “holiday news,” our 33rd annual Mayor’s Toy & Food Drive was a huge success – thanks to the many people who showed tremendous generosity once again. In addition to supplying nine families with toys and food, we also were able to donate food to the Sea Isle City United Methodist Food Cupboard and deliver candy to our local shut-in residents.
My thanks go to everyone who donated items for this year’s Toy & Food Drive as well as the local businesses that graciously offered to serve as drop-off locations during our annual drive: Crest Savings Bank, Dee’s Hair Salon, First Bank of Sea Isle City, Mrs. Brizzle’s Buns & Deli, Rick’s Breakfast House, and Sands Department Store. Also, a very special “thank you” goes to my “elves” who organized, wrapped, packed and helped deliver this year’s donations – you’re surely all on Santa’s “Nice List!”
Don’t forget that Sea Isle City is a great place to celebrate the New Year! In addition to our terrific fireworks display at 8:00 PM on December 31, many of our local restaurants will be welcoming customers on New Year’s Eve, so make your dinner reservations now and plan to be here as 2026 gets underway!
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
Three ordinances were listed on City Council’s December 23 meeting agenda, including the Second Reading of Ordinance 1728, which was Introduced with First Reading on November 25 to revise the types of plants that are to be planted at new construction sites. However, the Second Reading of Ordinance 1728 was postponed until the January 27 City Council meeting.
Ordinance 1730, which was Introduced with First Reading on December 23, was written to amend recreation fees – including establishing fees for the use of Sea Isle City’s pickleball courts (indoor and outdoor) and the use of the golf simulator in our new Community Center. This ordinance also establishes fees for non-property owners and non-year-round residents who want to enjoy Sea Isle City’s new Community Center; and it also adjusts fees for several existing recreation programs. Ordinance 1730 will have Second Reading (and possible adoption) during the January 27 City Council meeting.
Additionally, Ordinance 1729 was adopted on December 23 following its Second Reading and Public Hearing. Ordinance 1729 adjusted the installation fees for water service connections and a fee schedule for 6-inch piping. Please Note: This ordinance did not increase fees paid by property owners for general water and sewer service.
Each of the resolutions on the December 23 Consent Agenda was approved (several of which were standard yearly “housekeeping” resolutions). Among the approved resolutions were…
• Resolution 226, which authorized the re-establishment of Sea Isle City’s Green Team Advisory Committee.
• Resolution 229, which authorized the re-appointment of Sea Isle City’s Chief Financial Officer Jennifer McIver.
• Resolution 232, which authorized our Municipal Tax Assessor to file tax appeals on behalf of Sea Isle City.
• Resolution 234, which fixed interest rates on delinquent property taxes and municipal claims and provides a ten-day grace period.
• Resolution 235, which authorized the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Winter Termination Program, ensuring that the city will not terminate water-sewer service between November 15 and March 15 for residential customers that meet certain requirements, due to lack of payment.
• Resolution 237, which designated the official newspapers to be used for city publications (The Ocean City Sentinel, The Press of Atlantic City and The Cape May County Herald).
• Resolution 239, which authorized a change order (decrease) in the amount of $40,386, from Think Pavers, of Mount Royal, NJ, related to the Road Reconstruction Project along Sounds Avenue at 59th, 58th and 38th Streets.
• Resolution 240, which authorized Extraordinary Unspecifiable Services for Health Benefits Consultation from Mark Senior, of Marsh & McLennan Agency, in the amount of $52,000.
• Resolution 241, which authorized a Special Services Contract for Bond Counsel with McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, not to exceed $45,000.
• Resolution 242, which authorized a Local Co-Op Contract for Natural Gas Supply Services with UGI Energy Services, of Wyomissing, PA, with a fixed basis upcharge price of $2.40/Dth.
• Resolution 243, which authorized a Local Co-Op Contract for two annual Fireworks Shows during 2026, 2027 and 2028, with Pyrotechnic, of New Castle, PA, with an initial July Fourth cost of $81,000 and an initial New Year’s Eve cost of $16,000.
• Resolution 244, which authorized the use of State Approved Contracts during 2026, which will save Sea Isle City money when purchasing goods and services.
• Resolution 245, which authorized the use of various National Co-Op Contracts during 2026, which will save Sea Isle City money when purchasing goods and services.
• Resolution 246, which appointed Stephen Serwatka, of Animal Control of South Jersey, as Sea Isle City’s 2026 Animal Control Officer, for the amount of $11,400.
• Resolution 247, which appointed Daniel McCann as Sea Isle City’s 2026 Public Defender, for the amount of $20,000.
• Resolution 248, which appointed Thomas Rossi and Kyle Weinberg as Sea Isle City’s 2026 Municipal Prosecutors ($22,500 for Rossi; $25,000 for Weinberg).
• Resolution 249, which authorized a Professional Services Contract for I.T. Management with Contemporary Technologies, of Wildwood Crest, not to exceed $99,500.
• Resolution 250, which awarded a contract in the amount of $1,272,392 to Hughes Electric Company, of Pleasantville, NJ, for the installation of decorative light poles along the Promenade (29th to 35th Street and 44th to 57th Street).
• Resolution 251, which authorized the approval of a BINGO Application for the Sea Isle City Italian American Club.
During the “Citizen Comment” portion of the December 23 meeting, a resident asked if the recreation fees listed in the newly introduced Ordinance 1730 are going to be made available to the public before that ordinance’s Second Reading. As always, details about ordinances and resolutions are posted on Sea Isle City’s municipal website, www.seaislecitynj.us, under the “Upcoming City Meetings” link and on City Council’s homepage. Anyone is welcome to click on the meeting packets to view details related to the items listed on each agenda.
The next regular City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM on the third floor of City Hall – and we hope to see you there!
Best wishes for the holidays and a happy and healthy new year from the members of City Council!
Best regards from the members of City Council,
Council President Mary Tighe
Ian Ciseck
Frank Edwardi
Michael Jargowski
William Kehner
