Mayors Discuss Issues Facing the County and Towns

Cape May County officials met with the mayors and administrators of all 16 municipalities during a roundtable discussion on Feb. 16 that focused on key issues affecting the surrounding region. Topics included offshore wind energy projects, open space, mixed income housing, the countywide dispatch system and shared services agreements. Also discussed were a series of recent and potentially new laws being advanced in Trenton that will impact counties and municipalities statewide. Updates on state laws involving juvenile underage drinking and COAH were provided by the County Prosecutor's Office and Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen of the First Legislative District representing Cape May County. Cape May County Commission Director Leonard Desiderio started the Mayors Roundtable discussions in 2023 “as a vital platform for collaborative dialogue and problem-solving among local government leaders,” according to a county news release. Desiderio said the meetings provide an opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices and address shared challenges throughout the county. The quarterly meetings also play a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and coordination between the county and its municipalities, he said. “Being the mayor of Sea Isle City, I understand that the municipal problems are county problems and it’s our constituents that count on us to collaboratively work together to solve the issues facing Cape May County,” Desiderio said in the release. Commissioner Bob Barr, a former Ocean City councilman, stated, “I’m honored to have been a guest of the director for my first Mayors Roundtable, and coming from a municipal background, I can see why these meetings are so important. I look forward to continuing to work with local officials toward future partnerships that make sense to the residents of Cape May County.” With a dynamic agenda that adapts to the evolving needs and priorities of the communities, the Mayors Roundtables ensure that discussions remain relevant and responsive to current events happening throughout the county, according to the release. “Together we can build a stronger and more resilient county that better serves and meets the needs of our communities,” Desiderio said. Paid for by Michael DeVlieger