By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Karen Bergman, the longest-serving member on City Council and the only woman on the governing body, announced Thursday she is resigning to take a new job with Ocean City.
Bergman’s resignation may trigger a scramble to replace her. Getting an early jump, former First Ward Councilman Mike DeVlieger immediately announced that he will submit his name to Council for consideration to temporarily fill Bergman’s vacancy and then will run for the at-large seat in the May municipal election.
Choking back her emotions, Bergman said it was an honor for her to serve Ocean City’s residents during her 13 years on Council.
“Most of all, I’d like to thank the citizens of Ocean City. You’ve loved, supported and encouraged me over my tenure as your representative,” she said at what was her last Council meeting.
Bergman also extended special thanks to her fellow Council members, Mayor Jay Gillian and his administration and City Clerk Melissa Rasner for their help and support over the years.
Gillian, members of Council and others praised Bergman for her contributions to the city and her “common sense” approach to government.
“I will genuinely miss your down-to-earth common sense and I know the city will as well,” said Wes Kazmarck, president of the Boardwalk Merchants Association.
Council President Pete Madden called Bergman “a very passionate voice for the people.”
“Karen, you are going to be sorely missed,” Madden said, echoing the remarks of other Council members.
Bergman’s resignation from her position as an at-large Council member is effective Friday. She is stepping down to take a new job as supervisor of Ocean City’s senior citizens center. The city is taking over the operations of the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center from Cape May County on Feb. 1.
“I’m really excited about this position. I believe it’s a really good fit for me and it also offers me the opportunity to continue serving the community that I love so much,” Bergman said.
In an interview after the Council meeting, Bergman noted that at 62 years old, she is a senior citizen herself. She said she is eager to look for ways to expand the center’s activities and attractions for seniors.
“My goal is to enhance the experience for elderly people,” she said.
Bergman said she spoke to Gillian about the possibility of becoming the senior center’s supervisor before she decided to resign from Council.
“Jay and I had a conversation that it would be a good fit for me,” she said.
Gillian predicted that Bergman is going to be “the cherry on the cake” to help improve the senior center once the city takes over.
Bergman would not be allowed to serve on Council at the same time she is working as a full-time city employee.
She first served as a Second Ward councilwoman from 2008 to 2012, but chose not to seek re-election in 2012. She returned to the governing body in 2015, when she was unanimously appointed by Council to temporarily fill a vacant seat leading up to the 2016 election.
She won in 2016 and then followed up with another victory in the 2018 election for a full, four-year term. She won again in the 2022 election. Most recently, she has served as Council’s vice president.
Council will now have to decide whether to appoint someone to temporarily fill Bergman’s vacancy on the seven-member body leading up to the municipal election in May.
Madden said Council will consider “all options,” including the possibility of keeping the seat vacant for now, but noted he would prefer to appoint someone as a temporary member.
“I would rather fill the position. I believe that we should maintain the seven seats,” he said.
Mike DeVlieger, the former First Ward councilman, emerged as a candidate to succeed Bergman by immediately announcing his intention to run for the seat in the May election. DeVlieger also wants Council to consider appointing him to temporarily fill the vacancy.
“Like you, having done one tour and came back and done another, I am inclined to do the same, so I will be submitting my name for consideration, but more importantly, I’ll be running in May,” DeVlieger told Bergman.
DeVlieger complimented Bergman on their former time together serving on Council, telling her that he enjoyed working with her and greatly respects her.
“We didn’t always agree on things, but darn close to almost everything,” he said.
DeVlieger added, “You were always a pleasure. The phone rang both ways and communication is key to good leadership.”
He also told her that her new role as supervisor at the senior center is “custom made for you.”
“You’re terrific at what you do. Congratulations,” he said.
Bergman later said in an interview that she plans to recommend real estate agent Sean Barnes to fill her vacancy, but emphasized that she will leave it to Council to make the decision.
“He shares the same vision as I do for the community. He’s well-liked and has the same common-sense approach as I do,” she said of Barnes.
Barnes’ twin brother, Kevin, serves on the Ocean City Board of Education and was appointed its new president this year.
City Council consists of four ward seats and three at-large positions. The four ward seats are up for election in May for their regular four-year terms.
A special election will be needed in May to fill the unexpired term for Bergman’s at-large seat. The seat would be up for election again in May 2026 for the regular four-year term for the at-large positions on Council.
