A unanimous vote on Wednesday placed Keith Hartzell as president of City Council for a one-year term until June 30, 2016.
Hartzell was nominated by current President Tony Wilson, and the nod was approved in a 7-0 vote with no discussion.
Hartzell then nominated Mike Allegretto for another term as vice president, and he was approved in another unanimous vote.
Both Hartzell and Allegretto were elected to their third four-year terms in May 2014. Allegretto had served as president before Wilson, who held the post for two years.
Hartzell thanked Wilson and Allegretto for their work as council leaders in the past year.
“It’s like getting the keys to a Mercedes,” Hartzell said.
He also thanked Mayor Jay Gillian.
“You’ve developed a great relationship with council, and I want that to continue,” he said.
The selection of officers was part of the annual reorganization meeting at noon July 1 at City Hall.
The reorganization meeting also included approval of the following nominations:
- A Resolution Consenting to City Council’s Appointment of Councilman Antwan L. McClellan to the Ocean City Planning Board
- A Resolution Consenting to City Council’s Appointment of Councilman Michael DeVlieger as Liaison to the Utility Advisory Commission
In other business at the reorganization meeting, City Council approved the first readings of ordinances that set the salaries of department heads.
The first ordinance change applies to the finance director (a job currently held by Frank Donato), police chief (Chad Callahan) and fire chief (Chris Breunig). The second ordinance applies to the city clerk (Linda MacIntyre).
Each of the ordinances gives the employee a 1.5 percent base salary increase for 2015, then 1.25 percent increases each year from 2016 to 2018. The rate increases reflect the numbers approved in collective bargaining agreements with all other city employees.
An ordinance passed in August 2013 increased the finance director salary to $105,900 and then added 1.5 percent and 2 percent increases for 2013 and 2014 (to match the unions). The same measure placed the police chief salary at $140,554 before the 2013 and 2014 increases.
State law requires a police chief’s base salary to be higher than that of any of his subordinates, City Solicitor Dottie McCrosson said at the time.
The fire chief salary was at $126,554 when Breunig was hired in 2012 — less than the department’s three deputy chiefs earn.
Council did not ask about any of the current salaries before approving the measure, and Business Administrator Jim Mallon did not have the figures available immediately after the meeting.
