By Donald Wittkowski
Peter Guinosso is preparing to leave City Council, but says he has no plans to fade into the background in his soon-to-be role as ex-politician.
Volunteer work, his membership with a local watchdog group and his involvement with an alliance of Ocean City churches will keep him busy after he leaves Council, he said.
Guinosso will attend his final Council meeting Thursday night, bringing his four-year term as the Fourth Ward representative to an end.
The 75-year-old Navy veteran chose not to seek re-election in May because he wants to spend more time with his family on both the East and West coasts. Trips to California to see two of his sons, his grandchildren and his brother will place great demands on his time, he noted.
"In some ways, it's bittersweet. I enjoy being on Council, but in talking with my wife, we know we have family to take care of," he said in an interview Wednesday.
Guinosso says he leaves Council proud of his reputation as a stickler for details, an advocate for fiscal conservatism and a proponent of government transparency.
A resolution that Council will approve Thursday in his honor gives a glimpse of both his personality and his political preferences during his tenure with the seven-member governing body.
The resolution praises him as "a tireless advocate for transparency, ethics and fiscal responsibility." It goes on to say that he will "long be remembered for his professionalism, knowledge of local issues, good humor and for upholding the independent spirit of the Fourth Ward."
Guinosso displayed his independent streak this year by casting the lone dissenting vote on two issues generating intense public debate.
In March, he opposed a proposed ordinance that would have restricted street performers to a designated area of the Boardwalk. He argued it would have violated their constitutional right to free expression. Mayor Jay Gillian later pulled the ordinance, fearing it would have hurt local teenagers trying to make some money during the summer season.
Guinosso was also the only Council member to vote no in May on an ordinance that halts construction of a controversial type of housing called "coastal cottages." He wanted to make the ordinance even stricter by revoking a clause that grandfathers in coastal cottage projects that have already been approved by the city but are not yet built.
Guinosso said his experience on Council and the time he formerly spent as a Planning Board member underscored the importance of knowing how government decisions affect the community.
"I think what we miss a lot is an understanding of the impacts of what we do. But I think we're getting better at it," he said.
He believes that both Council and the Gillian administration have improved their relationship and outreach with the public. He said he is pleased with the public's participation in city affairs overall, but wants local residents to be even more engaged with government.
"Unless people stay involved and express concerns about issues, everything remains stagnant," he said.
Although he is leaving Council, Guinosso promised to remain active in the community. He is a member of the government watchdog group Fairness In Taxes and also serves with the Ocean City Ecumenical Council, a confederation of churches closely involved with charity work.
Ocean City is generally known for its award-winning beaches, bustling Boardwalk and family-friendly atmosphere during the peak summer tourism season. But Guinosso said there are other parts of the community that struggle. For instance, the Ecumenical Council handed out 3,700 articles of clothing in May to needy people, he noted.
"I care about the less fortunate in town," he said. "I didn’t realize until I got involved with the Ecumenical Council and the food cupboard just how bad things were."
On the eve of his final Council meeting, Guinosso said he has come to appreciate the work government can do to improve the community.
As a Council member, he is particularly proud of the roadway, drainage and dredging projects the city has approved to upgrade its infrastructure, he said.
However, he would like to see the city remain careful with its spending. As one of his final acts, he plans to ask the Gillian administration for an update on the financial condition of the Music Pier, the Ocean City Aquatics and Fitness Center and the municipal airport, all facilities that have been running in the red, he said.
"We want to get rid of the red ink and get more black ink," he said.
Guinosso will be replaced on Council by Bob Barr, who won election in the Fourth Ward in May. He said he has not offered Barr any advice as he prepares to take office in July.
