Cape May City Council Reorganization Meeting
Regular MeetingCape May, NJ · January 2, 2024
Minutes
2024 STATE OF THE CITY NOTES
Happy New Year to everyone and may God Bless all of you in 2024.
It is an honor to be Mayor of the Great City of Cape May.
This is a great City. It is great because of the hard work of so many people. Homeowners,
residents, businesses, tourists, volunteers, and our wonderful City Employees.
It is so important that we ALL work together.
We have moved rapidly and with strong conviction, for these days that require government to act
professionally and expeditiously.
Sometimes it feels like a whirlwind, but we need only to look around us to see the impact of
covid, climate change, saltwater intrusion, & even Civic disorder, crime, anger and descension.
Unfortunately, these are all issues that we must face.
To be successful, To preserve the town, to protect the town we must work together in a
nonpartisan way, - together for the community for all the projects that we have done.
Of all of the things that we, as a community, have accomplished, this is our major
accomplishment:
Our most important accomplishment, is to bring people together, to jointly embrace love of
community & love for each other.
For the peace and tranquility so called for in our constitution.
Our goals & projects are our projection of our sense of community. Sometimes during periods of
strife & poisonous political climates, we as citizens need to provide leadership to our elected
officials by working together- making our purpose for the good of the community, the good of
the state, and the good of our country.
We cannot always change the world on a greater scale but we can change our small world in
Cape May. Cape May should be “the shining City on a hill.”
In preparation for this speech, I looked back at my first state of the City Address 3 years ago…
I said then…
We were going to immediately start the approval process for a new fire house and go out to
bond for a $5M project. Many said at that time that was impossible. Through a lot of hard work,
the project is now coming to completion.
We said then, that we immediately get to work on Soldiers and Sailors Park
We said then, that we wanted to purchase and save the AME Church
Lead pipe removal program (now years ahead of schedule)
Start the Library project (almost complete)
2024 STATE OF THE CITY NOTES
In our first Council Meeting we formulated the Sewell Tract Preservation Task Force. Working
directly with the DEP & the Governors Office- they were able to make sure that land was
preserved for eternity.
Transparency: that first day we passed resolutions requiring all committee meetings be
livestreamed, and that all Council Meeting agendas be published in full at least 24 hours in
advance of the meeting.
We spoke of other smaller but important goals like improving our roads, and creating a drop off
lane in front of our elementary school.
We did this as a Council by working together with the Community as a whole.
The State of the City is Strong
• We surpassed $1M in interest in 2023!! $1,097,396 through December. This is an
increase in the 1000s of percentage
• Room occupancy through December came in at $3,964,528, around 10% increase over
2022.
• Parking revenue came in at $2,314,596, a 7% increase over 2022.
• Beach tags are on par with last years sales.
• Surplus remains the highest ever.
Those are the good things. And in prior speeches I have pointed out the many more good things
that have occurred.
But as we have done to face challenges before, we must work together to face even more
important issues:
-Seawall
-Water
-Affordable Housing
-Police Station
These must be the top priority for Cape May moving forward.
The seawall, because nothing else matters if we cannot holdback the ocean.
Water for obvious reasons
The Police station because we need a good foundation. Much like the Fire House we must first
give our First Responders the tools to help protect the City we love.
Affordable housing because Cape May was built by families and we must do everything we can
to maintain our year round residents.
2024 STATE OF THE CITY NOTES
This will take creative thinking, and a lot of hard work, but mostly it will take cooperation.
That is my call to action for the citizens of Cape May. Continue to volunteer, continue to be
engaged. No one person can do this alone. We invite all to help protect the town we all love.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Again I want to thank all of the City Employees, especially our new City Manager Paul Dietrich,
I want to thank City Council, and the citizens of Cape May. And wish all a happy New Year!
Agenda
AGENDA
REORGANIZATION MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE MAY, NJ
Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 4:30 P.M
CALL TO ORDER – Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
CLERK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Open Public Meetings Law P.L. 1975, Chapter 231 of the State of New Jersey (Sunshine Law)
Under the Open Public Meetings Law, notice of this meeting was sent to the Cape May County
Herald and the Press of Atlantic City, and a copy of the agenda was delivered to each member of
City Council, and posted on the Cape May City website and Cape May City Hall bulletin board.
Notice is hereby provided that Cape May City Council Meetings are audio recorded and video
streamed live. Live video streams are posted to the Cape May City website. The City of Cape May
is not responsible if audio recording or live video streaming of a meeting is unavailable.
ROLL CALL
INVOCATION
Oath of Office administered to City Manager Paul Dietrich – Sworn in by City Clerk Erin C.
Burke
NOMINATIONS
Nominations for Deputy Mayor
01-01-2024 Resolution for Election of Deputy Mayor
Oath of Office administered to Deputy Mayor – Sworn in by City Clerk Erin C. Burke
02-01-2024 Resolution Appointing City Solicitor and Authorizing the Execution of
Professional Services Contract for Same – Christopher Gillin-Schwartz, Esquire
Nominations for Various Board and Commission Liaison Members
03-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Class III Planning Board Member – Michael G.
Yeager
04-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Washington Street Mall Business Improvement
District Management Company, Inc. Board Member – Lorraine M. Baldwin
05-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission
Board Liaison – Lorraine M. Baldwin
06-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of City of Cape May Shade Tree Liaison – Shaine P.
Meier
07-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of City of Cape May Environmental Commission
Liaison – Michael G. Yeager
08-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of City of Cape May Beach Safety Committee Liaison -
Lorraine M. Baldwin
09-01-2024 Resolution for Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Liaison – Michael G. Yeager
10-01-2024 Resolution for Municipal Taxation and Revenue Advisory Committee Liaison-
Maureen McDade
CONSENT AGENDA
11-01-2024 Resolution Designating Cape Regional Urgent Care as the Official Physician for
the City of Cape May and Authorizing a One-Year Contract Therefor
12-01-2024 Resolution Designating Official Newspapers for the Year 2024 in the City of Cape
May- Cape May County Herald and Press of Atlantic City
13-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Municipal Public Defender and Authorizing the
Execution of Professional Services Contract for Same - Michael A. Sorenson,
Esquire
14-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of City Prosecutor and Authorizing Execution of
Professional Services Contract for Same- Kyle D. Weinberg, Esquire
15-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Bond Counsel, Archer and Greiner P.C. as the
Cape May City Bond Counsel and Authorizing the Execution of Professional
Services Contract for Same
16-01-2024 Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement for
Professional Services with Brown & Connery for Labor Counsel Services
17-01-2024 Resolution Approving Professional Services Agreement for Special Projects
Engineer- Engineering Design Associates, P.A.
18-01-2024 Resolution Approving Professional Services Agreement for Special Projects
Engineer- DeBlasio & Associates
19-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Engineer for Inspection of Projects Approved by
Cape May City Planning and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment- Polistina &
Associates, LLC
20-01-2024 Resolution Approving an Agreement between the City of Cape May and James M.
Rutala Associates, LLC for Consulting Services
21-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Risk Management Consultant Atlantic County
Municipal Joint Insurance Fund – Michael Mclaughlin of Marsh & McLennan
Agency in a Required Disclosure Manner
22-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Municipal Auditor and Authorizing the Execution
of a Professional Services Contract for Same- Leon P. Costello, CPA, RMA
23-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Professional Services Contract with Employee Care for an
Employee Assistance Program
24-01-2024 Resolution for Appointing Members of Various Boards and Commissions of the
City of Cape May
25-01-2024 Resolution Supporting Continued Participation in the Sustainable Jersey TM
Municipal Certification Program – Cape May City Green Team
26-01-2024 Resolution Appointing Members of the Cape May City Creative Team
27-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Jersey Cape Diagnostic, Training, and Opportunity Center,
Inc. to Sell Seasonal Beach Tags via its Website
28-01-2024 Resolution for the Appointment of a Volunteer Harbor Master in the City of Cape
May
29-01-2024 Resolution Confirming City Advisory Committees for the 2024 Calendar Year and a
Uniform Policy for Annual Confirmation of Committees and their Membership
30-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Professional Services Contract for Animal Control
Services
31-01-2024 Resolution Establishing 2024 Business Hours for City Hall in the City of Cape
May
32-01-2024 Resolution Designating Meeting Day and Place for Council Meetings of the City
of Cape May
33-01-2024 Resolution Establishing 2024 Scheduled Holidays for the City of Cape May
34-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing the City Clerk to Issue Bingo and Raffle Licenses
throughout the Year to Qualified Organizations
35-01-2024 Resolution Approving list of Peddlers’ Designated Locations
36-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing the Tax Assessor to File a Petition of Appeal and
Stipulation of Settlement for the Tax Year 2024 with the Cape May County Board
of Taxation
37-01-2024 Resolution Designating Public Agency Compliance Officer
38-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Contracts with Certain Approved State Contract Vendors
for Contracting Units Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40a:11-12a
39-01-2024 Resolution Concerning Deferred School Tax Levy – City of Cape May School
District
40-01-2024 Resolution Concerning Deferred School Tax Levy – City of Cape May – Lower
Cape May Regional School District
41-01-2024 Resolution Approving the 2024 Cash Management Plan for the City of Cape May
42-01-2024 Resolution Approving the 2024 Temporary Budget
43-01-2024 Resolution Affirming Rate of Interest on Delinquent Taxes and Assessments and
Fixing a Six (6%) Percent Penalty on Delinquent Taxes and Municipal Charges for
the Year 2024
44-01-2024 Resolution Proclaiming Dr. Sylvia Kuhner Baer as the Cape May City Poet
Laureate for the Year 2024
45-01-2024 Resolution for Appointment of Louis J. Belasco, Jr., P.J.M.C., as Judge of the
Municipal Court
46-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Invitation for Bid for Emergency and Non-Emergency
Tree Removal and Trimming Services in the City of Cape May
47-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing a Contract for Professional Services to Surenian, Edwards,
Buzak & Nolan LLC for Affordable Housing Counsel to the City of Cape May
48-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Intra-County Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement with
Participating Entities within the County of Cape May
49-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Renewal of Shared Services Agreement for the Services of
a Municipal Court Administrator with the Borough of West Cape May
50-01-2024 A Resolution Approving an Agreement between the City of Cape May and Triad
Associates for Consulting Services
51-01-2024 Resolution for the Payment of Bills
52-01-2024 Resolution Authorizing Award of Contract for Technology Management Services
to Barber Consulting Services, LLC
53-01-2024 Resolution Appointing Sean P. Canning as the Qualified Purchasing Agent to
Exercise the Duties of a Purchasing Agent Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40a:11-9 in the
City of Cape May
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS
Historic Preservation Commission
Environmental Commission
Library Advisory Committee
Office of Emergency Management
Class II Planning Board Member
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BY MAYOR ZACHARY MULLOCK
COUNCIL COMMENTS
BENEDICTION
PUBLIC PORTION: Those wishing to publicly comment shall come forward, give their name
and address and speak into the microphone. Please limit comments to a 5-minute timeframe.
ADJOURNMENT
CAPE MAY CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF LIVE-STREAMED, IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
Please be advised that the City of Cape May is holding all scheduled City Council
meetings in-person at the Cape May City Hall auditorium, 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ
08204. Meetings will also be streamed live on the City’s YouTube account (instructions on how
to watch below).
To watch and listen to the Council Meeting:
- Prior to the start of the meeting, visit the City’s website, www.capemaycity.com, and click
the yellow “Livestream” tab on the left-hand side of the screen, or;
- Select the meeting you wish to observe (may have to click “Videos” for a full listing)
Please note that written submissions and comments made via telephone will no longer be
accepted. You must attend the scheduled meeting in-person to make your public comment.
Public comments will be limited to a five-minute timeframe.
Further notice is given that this notice and relevant meeting documents are posted with
each Council Meeting Agenda on the “Meeting Calendar” page of the Cape May City website,
www.capemaycity.com, and also posted on the municipal bulletin board.
Erin C. Burke, City Clerk
City of Cape May
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