Dear Friends,
I want to pay tribute to two gentlemen that Ocean City lost recently, Nick Impagliazzo and Andy Jernee.
A lifetime resident, Mr. Impagliazzo was born in 1924 and raised on Simpson Avenue in Ocean City. A World War II veteran with the 36th Texas Division, he fought in North Africa and Italy.
He was a hardworking man who held down two full-time jobs throughout his life. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began his career as an Ocean City police officer, rising to the rank of sergeant. He also maintained full-time employment with the New Jersey American Water Company.
Mr. Jernee was a former City Council president, and he’s a great example of a leader who would always work to find common ground and do what’s truly best for Ocean City.
He was born in Ocean City in 1927 and was a star of the Ocean City High School football team. He went on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy and serve the Navy for another four years. On top of his career with IBM and GTE, Mr. Jernee found time to serve City Council with great distinction. He was always a big supporter and his wisdom was always welcomed.
Whether we were sitting in his living room or having conversations at Uncle Bill’s, he was always a gentleman and always put Ocean City first.
Both of these citizens were dedicated family men. I hope you all will join me in extending condolences to their family and friends.
I spoke with Senator Steve Sweeney this week about the wind energy project. We agreed, along with Senator Michael Testa, to stay in contact and work together as the review process moves forward.
I appreciate and support the resolution on last night’s City Council agenda opposing a state bill that takes away our home rule and limits the potential that Ocean City taxpayers could be compensated by Orsted for allowing transmission lines to cross town. But the bill had already been approved, and the governor is expected to sign it.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it’s important to keep all lines of communication open. Throughout this process, I have been in contact with elected officials, regulators, representatives of Orsted and many others. There are a lot of competing interests wrapped up in this project.
We need to be respectful of everybody with a stake in this proposal or else we could come away with nothing to show for it.
If the project can’t be stopped, I would hope that we could still salvage fair compensation that could help fund our flood mitigation program or other projects.
City Council unanimously approved our 2021 municipal budget last night. The budget represents a plan that is fair to taxpayers and maintains all of the services and improvements that residents expect.
The budget follows state guidance for the use of COVID relief money, which helped cut our proposed tax rate increase from 2.2 cents to just a penny. I want to thank Council, Finance Director Frank Donato and our auditor, Leon Costello, for their work in maintaining responsible budgets year after year.
Local citizens, the Chamber and the city are working to bring back the Fourth of July Bike Parade in the south end. The event will be held this year at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3.
As usual, families who would like to participate are asked to register in the parking lot at Our Lady of Good Counsel at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. The bike parade in the Gardens is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 4.
Ocean City’s annual Bike Auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 14. This event is always popular and more information is available here.
Tickets are now on sale for the special Night in Venice viewing area at the Bayside Center on July 24. A DJ and a food vendor will be part of the fun. Visit www.ocnj.us/boxoffice to reserve your spot.
Our calendar of weekly summer events starts this week. Look for the opening of the Farmers Market and Wacky Wednesdays on Wednesday. Market Days in the downtown and Family Night on the Boardwalk start on Thursday.
Finally, I want to encourage you to vote for Ocean City in the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s “Favorite Beaches” poll. We’ve won the title for 12 years in a row, and we need to keep our streak alive. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BC5BHH8 to vote and please help spread the word. Voting closes at 5 p.m. June 30.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
